/ ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːt; NAmE ˈkɑːntrəvɜːrt/ verb
[ vn ] ( formal ) to say or prove that sth is not true
SYN refute
—see also incontrovertible
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from Latin controversus (see controversy ), on the pattern of pairs such as adversus (see adverse ).