con·tro·ver·sy 
(kŏntrə-vûr′sē)
(kŏntrə-vûr′sē)n. pl. con·tro·ver·sies
1. A dispute, especially a public one, between sides holding opposing views.
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; see wer-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]