controversus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [kɔn.troːˈwɛr.sʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kon.troˈvɛr.sus]^[1]

Forms

contrōversus (feminine contrōversa, neuter contrōversum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from ⟨contrō-⟩, a form of contrā “against”, and ⟨versus⟩, the participle of vertō “to turn”, “turned against”.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source for the adverb is Cato, whom he dates 234–149 BC, and Gaffiot cites his De agri cultura.^[3][4]

Semantic evolution

As an adjective it meant controversial, debatable, disputed, as in Cicero.^[2][3] Its literal sense, turned towards, opposite, is in Ammianus, and Macrobius used it for contrary.^[4][5] As an adverb it meant in opposite directions, as in Cato.^[2][4]

In Medieval Latin it meant opposite, facing, and opposed.^[6] Its noun contrōversia gave English controversy in the late 14th century.^[7]

Timeline

• 234–149 BC – Cato uses the adverb.^[3][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses the adjective.^[3]
• late 14th century – English controversy is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Disputed, controversial.^[2]
2. Turned towards; opposite, contrary.^[4]

Adverb

1. In opposite directions.^[2]

Word family

• contrōversia
• contrōversiōsus

Related words

• contrā
• vertō
• English controversy

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com