v. Also 7–8 contra-. [Appeared about 1600: f. L. type *controvertĕre (f. contrō- against + vertĕre to turn) on the assumed analogy of L. contrōversus CONTROVERSED, and of convert, pervert, etc. So in mod.Sp. controvertir, Pg. controverter.
The source of this and the conjunct words was L. contrōversus turned against, opposed, controverted; thence, OF. controvers adj. (15th c.) opposed, hostile, controverted; also F. controversé (16th c.) controverted, and Eng. controversed; thence the Eng. verb to controverse, and mod.F. controverser; finally, by analogy, Eng. controvert, with its ppl. adj. controverted. The stress varies between the first and the third syllable: the latter mode is less usual, but more according to analogy: cf. animadvert, advert, etc., contradict, contravene, etc. So with the derivatives.]
† 1. trans. To oppose by argument or action; to dispute or contest (a title, possession, etc.).
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., 60. He may … alledge that na recognition sould be taken, anent the lands contraverted.
1661. Bramhall, Just Vind., iii. 31. Whether the possession … was certain and setled, or controverted and unquiet.
1682. Burnet, Rights Princes, v. 188. Yet the Rights of Guardianship … were never controverted.
2. To make the subject of controversy or verbal contention; to debate, discuss, dispute about.
1612. Brinsley, Lud. Lit., xiii. (1627), 184. A Theame of some matter which may be controverted.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. iii. III. (1651), 207. Why melancholy men are witty … is a problem much controverted.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones (1775), III. 110. A point which was controverted between Mr. Thwackum and Mr. Square.
1841. D’Israeli, Amen. Lit. (1867), 612. He would controvert the matter with eminent divines.
b. Const. with object clause.
1684. T. Burnet, Th. Earth, I. 254. The fathers … disputed and controverted, whether paradise was corporeal, or intellectual only.
1744. Harris, Three Treat., III. i. (1765), 126. Whether all this deserves the name of Good or not, I do not controvert.
3. To contend against or oppose in argument; to dispute, deny, contradict.
a. 1613. Overbury, Newes to Univ., Wks. (1856), 180. When one truth is granted, it may be … brought to confirm any other controverted.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., VII. iv. 346. The existence hereof men do not controvert.
1788. Priestley, Lect. Hist., V. xxxvi. 265. The Aristotelian philosophy … which no person had the courage to controvert before Descartes.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), IV. 316. This doctrine has been controverted; it is, however, very ably defended by Mr. Hargrave.
1830. S. R. Maitland, The 1260 Days, 23. My object in making the statement, which you have attempted to controvert, was to meet the common asssertion, that, ‘in the prophetic style, a day means a year.’
1880. McCarthy, Own Times, IV. liii. 127. A fact which cannot be controverted.
b. To oppose, stand up against (a person).
1816. Scott, Old Mort., xxvii. Thou wilt join thy grey hairs to his green youth to controvert me in this matter?
4. intr. To engage in a controversy.
1616. Bullokar, Controvert, to contend, strive, or be at variance about a matter.
1641. R. B. K., Parallel Liturgy w. Mass-bk., etc., 48. They do controvert among themselves about the words.
1683. Curtis, in Mem. J. Story Revived, 32. Thou didst not much controvert with him.
1851. J. H. Newman, Cath. in Eng., 304. He would not controvert with me at all, unless I subscribed to a doctrine [etc.].
