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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Controversy, Contraversy, n. Also: controverse, -versie, -wersie; contraverse (pl. -eis, -iis), -wersey. [ME. controversye (Wyclif), contraversy, OF. controversie, L. -versia.] A controversy, dispute, debate.(a) 1398 Liber Melros 489.
Archebalde M^cdowell … to pay … thretty pund forouten al manere of cauillacioun, controuersy, questioun, fraude, force, and male engine 1409 Exch. R. IV. p. ccx.
In case that outhir controversy or bargane happyn amang thair men 1483 Misc. Spald. C. V. 26.
Eftir that thai … wer accordit apon certane debate and controuersy betuixt thame 1543 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 113.
For vtter extinctioun of pley and controuersie that hes bene amangis thame in tyme bypast a1578 Pitsc. II. 181/24.
In this ȝeir thair was ane gret controwersie about the schereffschip of Fyffe 1596 Dalr. I. 126/10.
To agrie the parties quhair was controuersie 1611 Brechin Test. II. 133.
That all controverse and question of law be saitlit … betuix … thame(b) c1420 Wynt. vii. 904.
Apon this … Betwene thame cawsyd wes contraversys 1490 Acta Aud. 144/2.
To … gif thair sentence and consale in all the saidis materis and contrauersiis 1513 Doug. xii. xiv. 32.
A marche set … for to decern tharby The ald debait of pley or contrauersy 1564 Buccleuch Mun. II. 449.
Gif it sal happin ony contraverse or pley to fall 1578 Montgomery Mem. 218.
To tak trew … partt … in all … contrauerseis and debettis 1657 Balfour Ann. I. 68.
A contrawersey that had arrissen