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Webster 1913 Edition


Altercation

Alˊter-ca′tion

(?; 277)
,
Noun.
[F.
altercation
, fr. L.
altercatio
.]
Warm contention in words; dispute carried on with heat or anger; controversy; wrangle; wordy contest.
“Stormy altercations.”
Macaulay.
The term dispute is in most cases, but not necessarily, applied to a verbal contest;
as, a
dispute
on the lawfulness of war
. An altercation is an angry dispute between two parties, involving an interchange of severe language. A wrangle is a confused and noisy altercation.
Their whole life was little else than a perpetual
wrangling
and
altercation
.
Hakewill.

Webster 1828 Edition


Altercation

ALTERCA'TION

,
Noun.
[L. altercatio.]
Warm contention in words; dispute carried on with heat or anger; controversy; wrangle.

Definition 2024


altercation

altercation

English

Noun

altercation (plural altercations)

  1. Warm contention in words; dispute carried on with heat or anger; controversy; wrangle; wordy contest.
    • 1914, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Valley of Fear:
      "What the **** is it to you who are my friends?" roared McMurdo in a voice which brought every head in the carriage round to witness the altercation.

Synonyms

Translations


French

Etymology

From Latin altercatio.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /al.tɛʁ.ka.sjɔ̃/
  • Rhymes: -ɔ̃
  • Homophone: altercations

Noun

altercation f (plural altercations)

  1. Altercation