controversy

n., pl., -sies.

1. A dispute, especially a public one, between sides holding opposing views. See synonyms at argument.
2. The act or practice of engaging in such disputes: writers skilled at controversy.

[Middle English controversie, from Latin contrōversia, from contrōversus, disputed : contrō- (variant of contrā, contra-) + versus, past participle of vertere, to turn.]

noun

A discussion, often heated, in which a difference of opinion is expressed: altercation, argument, bicker, clash, contention, debate, difficulty, disagreement, dispute, fight, polemic, quarrel, run-in, spat, squabble, tiff, word (used in plural), wrangle. Informal hassle, rhubarb, tangle. See conflict/cooperation.

n

Definition: debate, dispute
Antonyms: accord, agreement, forbearance, harmony, peace, quiet, unanimity

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This entry contains information applicable to United States law only.

An actual dispute between individuals who seek judicial resolution of their grievances that have arisen from a conflict of their alleged legal rights.

A controversy describes only civil litigation, which is intended to protect and enforce private rights. In contrast, the term case applies to both a civil action and a criminal prosecution, designed to enforce and safeguard the rights of the general public.

The judicial power of a court to provide redress of wrongs exists only when issues arise in a given situation that can be categorized as a case orcontroversy.

A cynical view of the world by Ambrose Bierce

n.

A battle in which spittle or ink replaces the injurious cannon-ball and the inconsiderate bayonet.

    In controversy with the facile tongue --
    That bloodless warfare of the old and young --
    So seek your adversary to engage
    That on himself he shall exhaust his rage,
    And, like a snake that's fastened to the ground,
    With his own fangs inflict the fatal wound.
    You ask me how this miracle is done?
    Adopt his own opinions, one by one,
    And taunt him to refute them; in his wrath
    He'll sweep them pitilessly from his path.
    Advance then gently all you wish to prove,
    Each proposition prefaced with, "As you've
    So well remarked," or, "As you wisely say,
    And I cannot dispute," or, "By the way,
    This view of it which, better far expressed,
    Runs through your argument."  Then leave the rest
    To him, secure that he'll perform his trust
    And prove your views intelligent and just.
                                                    Conmore Apel Brune

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IN BRIEF: A heated discussion of something about which there is a difference of opinion.

No great advance has ever been made in science, politics, or religion, without controversy. — Lyman Beecher (1775-1863)

Quotes:

"No great advance has ever been made in science, politics, or religion, without controversy." - Lyman Beecher

"The dust of controversy is merely the falsehood flying off." - Thomas Carlyle

"I am continually fascinated at the difficulty intelligent people have in distinguishing what is controversial from what is merely offensive." - Nora Ephron

"When a thing ceases to be a subject of controversy, it ceases to be a subject of interest." - William Hazlitt

"Every real thought on every real subject knocks the wind out of somebody or other." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

"... the hydrostatic paradox of controversy. Don't you know what that means? Well, I will tell you. You know that, if you had a bent tube, one arm of which was of the size of a pipe-stem, and the other big enough to hold the ocean, water would stand at the same height in one as in the other. Controversy equalizes fools and wise men in the same way. And the fools know it." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

See more famous quotes about Controversy

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Common misspelling(s) of controversy

• contraversy
• controvery
• controvercy

Dansk (Danish)
n. - polemik

Nederlands (Dutch)
controverse, langdurige (openbare) twist

Français (French)
n. - controverse

Deutsch (German)
n. - Kontroverse, Streit

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (δημόσια) αντιπαράθεση, διένεξη ή διαμάχη

Italiano (Italian)
controversia

Português (Portuguese)
n. - controvérsia (f), discussão (f)

Русский (Russian)
спор, шумиха

Español (Spanish)
n. - controversia

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - kontrovers, tidningsdebatt, tvistemål (am. jur.)

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
论争, 论战, 辩论

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 論爭, 論戰, 辯論

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 논쟁, 말다툼

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 論争, 口論, 討論

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) جدال, خلاف, مناظرة‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮ויכוח, מחלוקת‬

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