controvert

American  

[kon-truh-vurt, kon-truh-vurt] / ˈkɒn trəˌvɜrt, ˌkɒn trəˈvɜrt /

verb (used with object)

1. to argue against; dispute; deny; oppose.

   Synonyms:

   rebut, refute

2. to argue about; debate; discuss.

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controvert British  

/ ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːt, ˈkɒntrəˌvɜːt /

verb

1. to deny, refute, or oppose (some argument or opinion)

2. to argue or wrangle about

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Other Word Forms

• controverter
  noun
• controvertible
  adjective
• controvertibly
  adverb
• controvertist
  noun
• uncontroverted
  adjective
• uncontrovertedly
  adverb
• uncontrovertible
  adjective
• uncontrovertibly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of controvert

First recorded in 1600–10; alteration of earlier controverse (from Latin contrōversus; see controversy) with -vert as in advert ¹, convert ¹

Explanation

If you controvert something, you dispute it. If you argue for a new pony, your parents will controvert your argument by pointing out you said the same thing about the dog — the one they have to walk. The verb controvert can mean to prove to be false or untrue. If you are a historian, you know that new evidence often controverts commonly-held beliefs, so history is constantly being revised and updated. Many children grew up learning that Christopher Columbus landed first in America, but now we have evidence to controvert that idea and other explorers such as Leif Eriksson beat Columbus to America.

Example Sentences

Controvert, kon′tro-vėrt, v.t. to oppose: to argue against: to refute.—adj.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

Out of "a dutiful Regard to the said Lady Gould his Mother-in-Law," Colonel Fielding declares himself unwilling to "Controvert anything with her further than of necessity."

From Henry Fielding: a Memoir by Godden, G. M.