n.
Pronunciation: ' kän-tr ə - ˌ v ə r-s ē , Brit also k ə n- ' trä-v ə r-s ē
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -sies
Etymology: Middle English controversie, from Anglo-French, from Latin controversia, from controversus disputable, literally, turned against, from contro- (akin to contra- ) + versus, past participle of vertere to turn ― more at WORTH
Date: 14th century
1 : a discussion marked especially by the expression of opposing views : DISPUTE
2 : QUARREL , STRIFE