controvertern.
/ˌkɒntrəˈvəːtə/, /ˈkɒntrəvəːtə/, U.S. /ˌkɑntrəˈvərtər/ Now somewhat rare.
A person engaged in argument or debate; an opponent of a person or position; a disputant.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > controversy, dispute, argument > [noun] > person engaged in
disputer1434
wrangler1561
debater1594
controvertist1608
disputant1612
controverser1614
controverter1615
controversist1623
disputator1637
polemic1639
disceptator1656
controversialist1658
eristic1659
scaldabancoa1670
fencera1680
controversionalist?1780
digladiator1803
argufier1805
polemist1825
polemicist1864
polemician1871
picador1876
barrack-room lawyer1943
1615 E. P. in J. Ainsworth Trying out of Truth To Rdr. 2 The controverters are so different in iudgment.
a1637 B. Jonson Timber 1046 in Wks. (1640) III Some Controverters in Divinity are like Swaggerers in a Taverne, that..turne every thing into a weapon.
1676 A. Marvell Mr. Smirke 27 The Controverter himself hath..by his own Argument all along hitherto proved it.
1739 Ess. & Lett. Var. Subj. 180 Whether the Controverters of them were most Knaves or Fools.
1789 R. Cumberland Arundel II. lxxv. 125 These [answers] again are as unintelligible to the pacific controverter of his opinions.
1826 W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1827) II. 575 Dr. Parr..the skilful controverter.
1840 London Med. Gaz. 4 Dec. 410/2 Raspail, the staunch controvertor of certainty in legal medicine, is ready to obtain as much arsenic from any old bit of furniture!
1887 Hampshire Advertiser 19 Nov. 8/3 Upon a division the opener was supported by 55 votes against 51 recorded for the controverter.
1917 Munsey's Mag. June 109/2 The Sun fenced lightly and skilfully with all controverters.
1988 Eng. Hist. Rev. 103 460 Edward Mortimer stands in creditably for Professor Bull in the latter's special, self-appointed role as controverter of the ‘Beloff thesis’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1615