controversializev.
/ˌkɒntrəˈvəːʃəlʌɪz/, /ˌkɒntrəˈvəːʃl̩ʌɪz/, U.S. /ˌkɑntrəˈvərsiəˌlaɪz/, /ˌkɑntrəˈvərʃ(ə)ˌlaɪz/ Now rare.
intransitive. To engage in controversy (with a person or about a topic).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > controversy, dispute, argument > contend, dispute, argue [verb (intransitive)]
flitec900
witherc1000
disputea1225
pleadc1275
strive1320
arguec1374
tolyc1440
toilc1450
wrestlec1450
altercate1530
disagree1534
dissent1538
contend1539
controvert1563
wrangle?1570
contestate?1572
to fend and prove?1578
contest1603
vie1604
controverse1605
discept1639
ergot1653
digladiatea1656
misprove1662
spar1698
argufy1804
spat1809
to cross swords1816
argle1823
to bandy words1828
polemize1828
controversialize1841
caffle1851
polemicize1881
ergotize1883
argy-bargy1887
cag1919
snack1956
1841 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 49 152 The easy and vain work of controversializing with straggling laggards.
1858 Homœopathic Rec. May 135 I wish to express my opinion, but do not wish to controversialize.
1900 J. Parker People's Bible XVI. 128 Now we are theorising about it, and doubting, speculating, and controversialising about it.
1943 Concordia Theol. Monthly July 501 Controversialists of long standing retired from the effort so as not to impede it. Others..who continued to controversialize, became exceedingly moderate in their statements.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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v.1841