▪ I. controversy, n.
(ˈkɒntrəvɜːsɪ)
Also 5–7 contra-, 5– -cye.
[ad. L. contrōversia, n. of quality f. contrōvers-us turned against, disputed; whence also earlier F. controversie (14th–16th c.), and mod.F. controverse, in same sense.]
1. The action of disputing or contending one with another; dispute, debate, contention. † a. as to rights, claims, and the like. Obs.
| 1382 Wyclif Heb. vi. 16 The ende of al her controuersye or debate is an ooth to confermacioun. 1494 Fabyan Chron. an. 7 John (R.), Contrauersy and varyaunce began to aryse amonge y⊇ personys assygned for the iij astatys. 1555 Eden Decades W. Ind. i. v. 27 He..made hym a Iudge in causes of controuersie. 1652 Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 75 The Carthaginians enjoying the Dominion of the Sea without controversie. |
| transf. 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. i. ii. 109 The Torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it..stemming it with hearts of Controuersie. |
b. Disputation on a matter of opinion; the contending of opponents one with another on a subject of dispute; discussion in which opposite views are advanced and maintained by opponents. Now chiefly applied to such a discussion conducted in writing.
| 1563–87 Foxe A. & M. (1684) III. 564 It was agreed by both, without Controversie (not one saying contrary) that, etc. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxxix. §3 There is no place left of doubt or controversy. 1644 Milton Educ. (1738) 136 To be tossed and turmoiled with their unballasted wits in fathomless and unquiet deeps of controversy. 1650 Hobbes Hum. Nat. xiii. (R.), The signs of two opinions contradictory one to another, namely affirmation and negation of the same thing, is called controversy. 1746 Wesley Princ. Methodist Pref. 1 This is the first time I have appeared in Controversy properly so called. 1839 Keightley Hist. Eng. II. 57 Might put an end to religious controversy. 1875 Manning Mission H. Ghost vi. 150 This text has been the subject of endless controversy. |
c. Const. at, in controversy: said of persons, or matters in dispute. without, beyond, out of controversy [Lat. sine controversia]: without or beyond dispute, question, or doubt.
| 1547 J. Harrison Exhort. Scottes 218 He without al doubt or controuersy, was very Emperor of al Britayn. 1555 Eden Decades 40 The matter is yet in controuersie. 1594 West 2nd Pt. Symbol. §1 The facultie or power of pronouncing sentence betweene persons at controversie. 1611 Bible Transl. Pref. 5 S. Hierome..the best linguist without controuersie, of his age. 1644 Milton Educ. (1738) I. 140 That it should be plain, healthful, and moderate, I suppose is out of controversy. 1777 Watson Hist. Philip II (1839) 279 Vitelli, who was, without controversy, the ablest and most experienced general. 1827 Jarman Powell's Devises (ed. 3) II. 89 This case was considered to have fixed, beyond controversy, the rule of law upon this subject. |
2. (with a and pl.) A dispute, contention.
| c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. vii. vi. 92 Be-twene þame cawsyd wes controversys. 1489 Caxton Faytes of A. i. xix. 60 Fyndyng alwayes som controuersies that nede not, but onely for to passe tyme. 1512 Act 4 Hen. VIII, c. 11 Variaunces and contraversies..bytwene the seid parties. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, ii. iv. 109 Husbands, Fathers, and betrothed Louers, That shall be swallowed in this Controuersie. 1678 Cudworth Intell. Syst. i. i. §19. 18 A perpetual War and Controversie in the World..betwixt these two Parties or sects of men. 1845 Polson in Encycl. Metrop. 797 In criminal controversies. |
b. esp. A debate or dispute on a matter of opinion; a discussion of contrary opinions.
| 1573 G. Harvey Letter-bk. (Camden) 11 It were more fruteful for us..to handle sum sad & witti controversi. 1611 Bible Transl. Pref. 11 Lest the Authoritie of the Scriptures for deciding of controuersies..should somewhat be shaken. 1713 Berkeley Hylas & P. iii. Wks. I. 359 The controversy about Matter..lies altogether between you and the philosophers. 1852 H. Rogers Ecl. Faith (1853) 100 The great controversy respecting the ‘Origin of Evil’. |
† 3. Difference of opinion, disagreement. Obs.
| 1538 Starkey England i. ii. 28 Thys thyng..semyth to be a controuersy..betwyx Arystotyl and Plato. Ibid. i. ii. 44 Thus, Master Lvpset, the thyng dyuersly consyderyd makyth betwyx vs to appere controuersy. |
4. Comb., as † controversy-logic, controversy-writer.
| 1680 H. Dodwell Two Lett. Advice (1691) 195 For Controversie Logick I mention nothing. a 1691 Bp. T. Barlow Rem. 159 (T.) Their schoolmen, casuists, and controversy-writers have so mixed Aristotle's philosophy with their divinity. |
▪ II. † ˈcontroversy, v. Obs.
[f. prec. n.]
= controverse v. Hence ˈcontroversying vbl. n.
| 1593 Bilson Govt. Christ's Ch. 108 More controversied than the other two. 1606 T. Whetenhall Discov. Abuses Ch. Christ 5 These pointes of religion now controversied among vs. 1865 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. xviii. x, About which there has been such commentating and controversying. |