Etymology

From Middle English disputen < Old French desputer (French disputer) < Latin disputare ("to dispute, discuss, examine, compute, estimate") < dis- ("apart") + putare ("to reckon, consider, think, orig. make clean, clear up"), related to purus ("pure"). Cf. compute, count, impute, repute, amputate, etc.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /dɪsˈpjuːt/, SAMPA: /dIs"pju:t/
• Audio (US) ^[?]
• Rhymes: -uːt

Noun

dispute (plural disputes)

1. An argument or disagreement, a failure to agree.
2. Verbal controversy; contest by opposing argument or expression of opposing views or claims; controversial discussion; altercation; debate.
3. Contest; struggle; quarrel.

Verb

to dispute (third-person singular simple present disputes, present participle disputing, simple past and past participle disputed)

1. To contend in argument; to argue against something maintained, upheld, or claimed, by another; to discuss; to reason; to debate; to altercate; to wrangle.
2. To make a subject of disputation; to argue pro and con; to discuss.
3. To oppose by argument or assertion; to attempt to overthrow; to controvert; to express dissent or opposition to; to call in question; to deny the truth or validity of; as, to dispute assertions or arguments.
4. To strive or contend about; to contest.
5. To struggle against; to resist.

Related terms

• disputable
• disputant
• disputation
• disputatious

Derived terms

• industrial dispute

This entry is from Wiktionary - Dictionary and thesaurus. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.