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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Controversy \Con"tro*ver'sy\, noun; pl. {Controversies}. [L. controversia, fr. controversus turned against, disputed; contro- = contra + versus, p. p. of vertere to turn. See {Verse}.]
1. Contention; dispute; debate; discussion; agitation of contrary opinions.
This left no room for controversy about the title. --Locke.
A dispute is commonly oral, and a controversy in writing. --Johnson.
2. Quarrel; strife; cause of variance; difference.
The Lord hath a controversy with the nations. --Jer. xxv. 31.
3. A suit in law or equity; a question of right. [Obs.]
When any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment. --2 Sam. xv. 2.
Syn: Dispute; debate; disputation; disagreement; altercation; contention; wrangle; strife; quarrel.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
controversy
noun: a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement; "they were involved in a violent argument" [syn: {contention}, {contestation}, {disputation}, {disceptation}, {tilt}, {argument}, {arguing}]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
108 Moby Thesaurus words for "controversy": Kilkenny cats, altercation, antagonism, apologetics, apologia, apology, argument, argumentation, bicker, bickering, blood feud, brawl, broil, casuistry, cat-and-dog life, clashing, combat, conflict, confrontation, contention, contentiousness, contest, contestation, contradiction, cut and thrust, debate, defense, difference, disaccord, disaccordance, disagreement, discord, discordance, discordancy, discrepancy, disharmony, disparity, disputation, dispute, dissension, dissent, dissidence, dissonance, disunion, disunity, divergence, diversity, donnybrook, donnybrook fair, embroilment, enmity, faction, falling-out, feud, fight, fighting, fliting, flyting, fracas, fuss, hassle, hostility, hubbub, hurrah, imbroglio, inaccordance, inequality, jarring, litigation, logomachy, miff, negation, open quarrel, opposition, oppugnancy, paper war, passage of arms, polemic, polemics, quarrel, quarreling, quarrelsomeness, questioning, repugnance, rhubarb, rumpus, scrapping, set-to, sharp words, slanging match, snarl, spat, squabble, squabbling, strife, struggle, tiff, tussle, unharmoniousness, variance, vendetta, verbal engagement, war, war of words, warfare, words, wrangle, wrangling
From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:
CONTROVERSY, noun A battle in which spittle or ink replaces the injurious cannon-ball and the inconsiderate bayonet.
In controversy with the facile tongue -- That bloodless warfare of the old and young -- So seek your adversary to engage That on himself he shall exhaust his rage, And, like a snake that's fastened to the ground, With his own fangs inflict the fatal wound. You ask me how this miracle is done? Adopt his own opinions, one by one, And taunt him to refute them; in his wrath He'll sweep them pitilessly from his path. Advance then gently all you wish to prove, Each proposition prefaced with, "As you've So well remarked," or, "As you wisely say, And I cannot dispute," or, "By the way, This view of it which, better far expressed, Runs through your argument." Then leave the rest To him, secure that he'll perform his trust And prove your views intelligent and just. Conmore Apel Brune
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