Part 529

Con`tro*ver"sion (?), n. Act of controverting; controversy. [Obs.] Hooker.

Con"tro*ver`sor (?), n. A controverser. [Obs.]

Con"tro*ver`sy (?), n.; pl. Controversies (#). [L. controversia, fr. controversus turned against, disputed; contro- = contra + versus, p. p. of vertere to turn. See Verse.] 1. Contention; dispute; debate; discussion; agitation of contrary opinions.

This left no room for controversy about the title. Locke.

A dispute is commonly oral, and a controversy in writing. Johnson.

2. Quarrel; strife; cause of variance; difference.

The Lord hath a controversy with the nations. Jer. xxv. 31.

3. A suit in law or equity; a question of right. [Obs.]

When any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment. 2 Sam. xv. 2.

Syn. -- Dispute; debate; disputation; disagreement; altercation; contention; wrangle; strife; quarrel.

Con"tro*vert (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Controverted; p. pr. & vb. n. Controverting.] [See Controversy.] To make matter of controversy; to dispute or oppose by reasoning; to contend against in words or writings; to contest; to debate.

Some controverted points had decided according to the sense of the best jurists. Macaulay.

Con"tro*ver`ter (?), n. One who controverts; a controversial writer; a controversialist.

Some controverters in divinity are like swaggerers in a tavern. B. Jonson.

Con`tro*ver"ti*ble (?), a. Capable of being controverted; disputable; admitting of question. -- Con`tro*ver"ti*bly, adv.

Con"tro*ver`tist (?), n. One skilled in or given to controversy; a controversialist.

How unfriendly is the controvertist to the discernment of the critic! Campbell.

{ Con*tu"ber*nal (?), Con`tu*ber"ni*al (?) }, a. [L. contubernalis a tent companion, fr. contubernium tent companionship.] Living or messing together; familiar; in companionship.

Humble folk ben Christes friends: they ben contubernial with the Lord, thy King. Chaucer.

Con`tu*ma"cious (?), a. [L. contumax, -acis. See Contumacy.] 1. Exhibiting contumacy; contemning authority; obstinate; perverse; stubborn; disobedient.

There is another very, efficacious method for subding the most obstinate, contumacious sinner. Hammond.

2. (Law) Willfully disobedient to the summous or prders of a court. Blackstone.

Syn. -- Stubborn; obstinate; obdurate; disobedient; perverse; unyielding; headstrong.

-- Con`tu*ma"cious*ly, adv. -- Con`tu*ma"cious*ness, n.

Con"tu*ma*cy (?), n.; pl. Contumacies (#). [L. contumacia, fr. contumax, -acis, insolent; prob. akin to contemnere to despise: cf. F. contumace. Cf. Contemn.] 1. Stubborn perverseness; pertinacious resistance to authority.

The bishop commanded him . . . to be thrust into the stocks for his manifest and manifold contumacy. Strype.

2. (Law) A willful contempt of, and disobedience to, any lawful summons, or to the rules and orders of court, as a refusal to appear in court when legally summoned.

Syn. -- Stubbornness; perverseness; obstinacy.