Altercation

English

Etymology

From French altercation, from Latin altercatio.

Pronunciation

• (WEAE) IPA: /ɔl.tɚˈke.ʃən/
• Rhymes: -eɪʃǝn

Noun

Singular Altercation

Plural {{{1}}}

Altercation ({{{1}}})

1. Warm contention in words; dispute carried on with heat or anger; controversy; wrangle; wordy contest.

Usage notes

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.

Synonyms

• dispute, wrangle

Quotations

“What the hell 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. “Did I ask you for your advice, or did you think me such a sucker that I couldn't move without it? You speak when you are spoken to, and by the Lord you'd have to wait a long time if it was me!” He thrust out his face and grinned at the patrolmen like a snarling dog.
—Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in The Valley of Fear

Translations

dispute

Bulgarian: спор bg(bg) Czech: hádka cs(cs) f. Finnish: riita fi(fi), kiista fi(fi), sanasota fi(fi), tappelu fi(fi)

French: altercation fr(fr) f. German: heftige Auseinandersetzung f.

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French

Etymology

From Latin altercatio.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /al.tɛʁ.ka.sjɔ̃/, X-SAMPA: /al.tER.ka.sjO~/
• Rhymes: -ɔ̃
• Homophones: altercations

Noun

Altercation f. (plural Altercations)

1. Altercation

el:altercation fr:altercation io:altercation id:altercation kn:altercation hu:altercation pl:altercation ru:altercation fi:altercation ta:altercation te:altercation th:altercation tr:altercation vi:altercation