POLEMIC

noun Etymology: French polémique, from Middle French, from polemique controversial, from Greek polemikos warlike, hostile, from polemos war; perhaps akin to Greek pelemizein to shake, Old English ealfelo baleful Date: 1638 1. an aggressive attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another, the art or practice of disputation or controversy, an aggressive controversialist ; disputant , ~ist noun