controversibleadj.
/ˌkɒntrəˈvəːsᵻbl/, U.S. /ˌkɑntrəˈvərsəb(ə)l/ Now rare.
= controvertible adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > insecure knowledge, uncertainty > questionable state or quality > [adjective]
openlOE
doubtousc1330
uncertain1338
doubtyc1380
brigousa1387
doubtablec1400
doubtfula1425
questionable1443
batable1453
strivablec1456
inquirable1485
litigious1520
doubtsomea1522
disputable1548
dubious1548
doubted?1551
moot1563
problematical1567
discussiblea1578
debatable1581
controversial1583
disputativea1586
debateful1587
decidable1596
controversible1601
controvertible1601
controversal1604
controversable1607
problematic1609
controversary1610
left-handed1610
disputed1611
dubitable1625
quarrellable1642
catchinga1670
non liquet1678
brigose1679
contestable1702
equivocala1797
controversional1807
contradictable1856
discutable1868
hinky1961
1601 J. Byrde Let. 27 Aug. in Cecil Papers (Hatfield House CP 87/144) f. 145 A late sedition and faction is arisen for controversible opinions.
1634 T. Jackson Knowledg of Christ Jesus 184 What place of Scripture is there lesse controversible for grammaticall signification of the words?
1668 J. Howe Blessednesse of Righteous x. 170 The discussing of things dubious and controversible.
1853 N. Amer. Rev. Oct. 432 The history of any such scientific subject, not readily susceptible of direct and immediate proof, must always be for a season eminently controversible.
1896 A. T. de Mattos tr. A. de Tocqueville Recoll. i. i. 13 When they are no longer protected behind a number of still more controversible and odious rights.
2009 S. Knott Sensibility & Amer. Revol. 267 Sensibility was controversible; it was opened to controversy.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1601