controversy English · revision 6688

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1382|origins=la verto}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kənˈtɹɒv.ə.si/, /ˈkɒn.tɹəˌvɜː.si/; /ˈkɑn.tɹəˌvɝ.si/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English controversie, [[bor|fro|controversie|t=quarrel, disagreement]] or directly [[m|la|contrōversia|t=a turning against; dispute]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|la|contrōversus|t=turned against, disputed]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[m|la|contrō-|t=against]] (a variant of contra) and [[m|la|versus|t=turned]], the past participle of [[m|la|verto|alt=vertere|t=to turn]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(MWU 2024) from PIE [[ine-pro|*wer-|t=to turn, bend]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A dispute about rights or claims: 1382 in the OED;^(OED 1989) about 1384, in the Wycliffe Bible, in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A dispute or contention is from about 1425,^(OED 1989) and disputation on a matter of opinion, especially a long public debate, from the 16th century.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) ''Without controversy'', beyond dispute, is from 1547.^(OED 1989) [[controversial|alt=Controversial]] is from 1583, and the verb [[controvert]], to dispute, from 1609, formed on the model of convert and pervert.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1382 – a dispute over rights.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1425 – a dispute.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1547 – without controversy.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1583 – controversial.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A long public [[dispute]] or [[debate]] about a matter on which people strongly disagree.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The act of engaging in such disputes; [[argument]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[precontroversy]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[controversial]]

+ * [[controvert]]

+ * [[contra]]

+ * [[verse]]

+ * [[convert]]

+ * [[version]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The pronunciation with stress on the second syllable, /kənˈtrɒvəsi/, is common in Britain beside /ˈkɒntrəvɜːsi/.^(Roach et al. 2011)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}