controversial
UK[ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːʃl]US[ˌkɑːntrəˈvɜːrʃl]
adj
Causing or likely to cause public disagreement and debate.
adj
Having or showing a tendency to disagree or argue.
Morpheme Breakdown
contro
vers
ial
contro
against
vers
turn
ial
adjective suffix
Etymology
The word 'controversial' has its roots in the Latin controversia, which itself is a compound of contrā- ("against") and vertere ("to turn"). The core image is of a turning against, a meeting of opposing viewpoints. This evolved into the Late Latin controversialis, meaning "pertaining to dispute or debate". The term entered English in the 16th century, carrying forward the sense of being characterized by a "turning against" or clashing of opinions. Thus, the modern meaning directly reflects this ancient logic: something that is 'controversial' inherently involves a turning of people or arguments against each other, leading to public disagreement.
Analysis
Structure: contro (against) + vers (turn) + ial (adjective suffix)
- contro: From Latin contrā, meaning "against, opposite".
- vers: From Latin vertere, meaning "to turn".
- ial: A Latin-derived adjectival suffix meaning "of, relating to, or characterized by".
Examples
The government's decision to build the new highway was highly controversial.
He is a controversial figure in the world of modern art.
The judge's ruling on the case proved to be deeply controversial.