Main Entry:
po·lem·ic Pronunciation: p&-'le-mik
Function:
noun Etymology: French
polémique, from Middle French, from
polemique controversial, from Greek
polemikos warlike, hostile, from
polemos war; perhaps akin to Greek
pelemizein to shake, Old English eal
felo baleful
Date: 1638
1 a : an aggressive attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another
b : the art or practice of disputation or controversy -- usually used in plural but sing. or plural in constr.
2 : an aggressive controversialist
: DISPUTANT -
po·lem·i·cist /-'le-m&-sist/
noun
