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controversy

 - 4 dictionary results

con⋅tro⋅ver⋅sy

  [kon-truh-vur-see; Brit. also kuhn-trov-er-see]
Use controversy in a Sentence
–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 -y 3

Synonyms:
1. disagreement, altercation. 2. quarrel, wrangle. See argument.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To controversy
con·tro·ver·sy   (kŏn'trə-vûr'sē)   
n.   pl. con·tro·ver·sies

  1. A dispute, especially a public one, between sides holding opposing views. See Synonyms at argument.

  2. 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.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: con·tro·ver·sy
Pronunciation: 'kän-tr&-"v&r-sE British also k&n-'trä-v&r-sE
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -sies
1 : a state of dispute or disagreement controversy shall exceed twenty dollars —U.S. Constitution amendment VII>
2 : a civil action involving a real and immediate dispute between parties with adverse interests
NOTE: Article III of the U.S. Constitution gives the judiciary the power to decide cases and controversies. Article III's limitation of the judicial power to cases or controversies requires that an action brought in the federal court involve parties with standing to sue and questions that are ripe and not moot. —con·tro·ver·sial /"kän-tr&-'v&r-sh&l, -'v&r-sE-&l/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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