Etymologically
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controversia

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kɔn.troːˈwɛr.si.a][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kon.troˈvɛr.si.a][1]

Forms

contrōversia f (genitive contrōversiae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is from contrōversus “turned against” with the suffix -ia.[2][1][3] Plautus, Terence and an inscription have the older ⟨contrōvorsia⟩, and another inscription ⟨contrāversia⟩.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of a dispute.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

Lewis and Short give its literal sense, a turning against, as in the Digest's onrush of water against a building.[5][2] It meant arguing, a dispute, and in contrōversiā esse to be disputed, sine contrōversiā beyond question, as in Terence.[2] In the schools of rhetoric it meant a hypothetical law case debated as an exercise.[2] Döderlein explains that disceptātiō and contrōversia are disputes settled quietly and in order, contentiō and iūrgium ones conducted with passion.[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant controversy, contention, dispute.[7] English controversy came in the late 14th century from Old French or directly from Latin.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a dispute.[2][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses sine contrōversiā.[2][4]
  • late 14th century – English controversy is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A dispute, argument, controversy, sine contrōversiā, indisputably.[2]
  2. (rhetoric) A fictitious law case debated as an exercise.[2]
  3. An onrush of water.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com