/dis'pyoo tay"sheuhn/ , n.
1. the act of disputing or debating; verbal controversy; discussion or debate.
2. an academic exercise consisting of the arguing of a thesis between its maintainer and its opponents.
3. Obs. conversation.
[ 1350-1400; ME disputacioun disputation- (s. of disputatio ), equiv. to disputat ( us ) (ptp. of disputare; disput- (see DISPUTE) + -atus -ATE 1 ) + -ion- -ION; r. desputisoun ]