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Word of the Week: Polemic

03.04.2007

po?lem?ic [puh-lem-ik, poh-]

–noun
1. a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine, etc.

2. a person who argues in opposition to another; controversialist.

–adjective
3. Also, po?lem?i?cal. of or pertaining to a polemic; controversial.

[Origin: 1630–40; < Gk polemikós of or for war, equiv. to pólem(os) war + -ikos -ic]

–Related Forms
po?lem?i?cal?ly, adverb

In A Sentence
"Kevin Drum makes the valid point that much of the polemic in Fahrenheit 9/11 is similar in nature to the polemic the pro-war side has used both in the ramp-up to war and in the post-fall-of-Saddam phase."

- Chris Andersen, "The Essential Polemic", Interesting Times, June 29, 2004

 

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, ? Random House, Inc. 2006.

Shawn Denny, Information Services Librarian