controversy - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

con·tro·ver·sy

Audio Help [kon-truh-vur-see; Brit. also kuh

n-trov-er-see] Pronunciation Key

–noun, plural -sies.

1.	a prolonged public dispute, debate, or contention; disputation concerning a matter of opinion.

2.	contention, strife, or argument.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME controversie (< AF) < L contrōversia, equiv. to contrōvers(us) turned against, disputed (contrō-, var. of contrā against, + versus, ptp. of vertere to turn) + -ia -y³

]

—Synonyms 1. disagreement, altercation. 2. quarrel, wrangle. See argument.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
controversy

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

con·tro·ver·sy Audio Help (kŏn'trə-vûr'sē) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. con·tro·ver·sies

A dispute, especially a public one, between sides holding opposing views. See Synonyms at argument.
The act or practice of engaging in such disputes: writers skilled at controversy.

[Middle English controversie, from Latin contrōversia, from contrōversus, disputed : contrō- (variant of contrā, contra-) + versus, past participle of vertere, to turn; see wer-² in Indo-European roots.]

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
controversy

c.1384, from L. controversia, from controversus "turned in an opposite direction, from contra- "against" + versus (see verse). Controvert (1609) is a back-formation.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

controversy
noun
a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement; "they were involved in a violent argument"

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
controversy [kənˈtrovəsi, ˈkontrəvəːsi] noun — plural controversies

(an) argument between opposing points of view
Example: the controversy over the appointment of the new chairman

Arabic:	جِدال، مُناظَرَه
Chinese (Simplified):	争议
Chinese (Traditional):	爭議
Czech:	spor, debata, kontroverze
Danish:	strid; kontrovers
Dutch:	controverse
Estonian:	vaidlus
Finnish:	kiistely
French:	controverse
German:	die Kontroverse
Greek:	διένεξη
Hungarian:	vita
Icelandic:	deila; þræta
Indonesian:	kontroversi
Italian:	controversia

Japanese:	論争
Latvian:	strīds; polemika
Lithuanian:	ginčas, polemika
Norwegian:	feide, strid, kontrovers, polemikk
Polish:	spór, niezgodność poglądów
Portuguese (Brazil):	controvérsia
Portuguese (Portugal):	controvérsia
Romanian:	controversă
Russian:	полемика
Slovak:	kontroverzia
Slovenian:	spor
Spanish:	controversia
Swedish:	kontrovers
Turkish:	tartışma

See also: controversial

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Controversy

Con"tro*ver`sy\, n.; pl. Controversies. [L. controversia, fr. controversus turned against, disputed; contro- = contra + versus, p. p. of vertere to turn. See Verse.]

1. Contention; dispute; debate; discussion; agitation of contrary opinions.

This left no room for controversy about the title. --Locke.

A dispute is commonly oral, and a controversy in writing. --Johnson.

2. Quarrel; strife; cause of variance; difference.

The Lord hath a controversy with the nations. --Jer. xxv. 31.

3. A suit in law or equity; a question of right. [Obs.]

When any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment. --2 Sam. xv. 2.

Syn: Dispute; debate; disputation; disagreement; altercation; contention; wrangle; strife; quarrel.

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