controversus Latin · revision 9108

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=Cato|origins=la contrā, la vertō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [kɔn.troːˈwɛr.sʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kon.troˈvɛr.sus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''contrōversus''' (feminine contrōversa, neuter contrōversum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from ⟨contrō-⟩, a form of [[contrā]] “against”, and ⟨versus⟩, the participle of [[vertō]] “to turn”, “turned against”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==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''.^(Köbler 2010)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As an adjective it meant controversial, debatable, disputed, as in Cicero.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) Its literal sense, turned towards, opposite, is in Ammianus, and Macrobius used it for contrary.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Lewis & Short 1879) As an adverb it meant in opposite directions, as in Cato.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it meant opposite, facing, and opposed.^(Niermeyer 1976) Its noun ''contrōversia'' gave [[en|controversy]] in the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses the adverb.^(Köbler 2010)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses the adjective.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''controversy'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Disputed, [[m|en|controversial]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Turned towards; opposite, contrary.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In opposite directions.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[contrōversia]]

+ * [[contrōversiōsus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[contrā]]

+ * [[vertō]]

+ * [[en|controversy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}