Although based on Latin, the word controversial is not spelt contraversial despite basically meaning against a view. How did it get the second o instead of the more logical a?

Question

Although based on Latin, the word controversial is not spelt contraversial despite basically meaning against a view. How did it get the second o instead of the more logical a?

Question #151442. Asked by satguru.
Last updated Jul 20 2024.
Originally posted Jul 19 2024 7:51 PM.

elburcher

Answer has 2 votes

elburcher

24 year member
1533 replies avatar

Answer has 2 votes.

In accordance with the OED Contro- is a variant of Contra-

controversial
Word Origin
late 16th cent.: from late Latin controversialis, from controversia, from controversus 'turned against, disputed', from contro- (variant of contra- 'against') + versus, past participle of vertere 'to turn'.

https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/controversial

Jul 20 2024, 6:58 PM

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Answer 1

It is a bit odd though, given that the only common words beginning with "contro-" according to Onelook which searches over a thousand dictionaries are words based on control or cntroversy.

https://www.onelook.com/?w=Contro*&scwo=1&sswo=1

Perhaps someone tried to spell it controversially and it caught on.

Although based on Latin, the word controversial is not spelt contraversial despite basically meaning against a view. How did it get the second o instead of the more logical a?

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