- altercation
- means a heated exchange of words. If blows are traded or shoving is involved, it is not properly an altercation.
Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors. 2013.
altercation
Look at other dictionaries:
altercation — [ altɛrkasjɔ̃ ] n. f. • XVIe; « débat, désaccord » 1289; lat. altercatio ♦ Échange bref et brutal de propos vifs, de répliques désobligeantes. ⇒ dispute, empoignade (cf. Prise de bec). « Les conférences diplomatiques n avaient conduit qu à des… … Encyclopédie Universelle
Altercation — Al ter*ca tion (?; 277), n. [F. altercation, fr. L. altercatio.] Warm contention in words; dispute carried on with heat or anger; controversy; wrangle; wordy contest. Stormy altercations. Macaulay. [1913 Webster] Syn: {Altercation}, {Dispute},… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
altercation — I noun affray, altercatio, angry dispute, argument, bickering, broil, commotion, conflict, contestation, controversy, disaccord, disputation, dispute, disturbance, feud, fight, fracas, heated debate, iurgium, jangle, jangling, melee, noisy… … Law dictionary
altercation — ALTERCATION. s. f. Débat, contention, contestation entre deux ou plusieurs personnes. Il s éleva une grande altercation entre eux … Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798
altercation — Altercation. s. f. Signifie la mesme chose, & il est un peu plus usité. Il s esmeut une grande altercation entre eux … Dictionnaire de l'Académie française
Altercation — (v. lat.), 1) Debatte in den Gerichten; 2) Hader, Zwist … Pierer's Universal-Lexikon
altercation — (n.) late 14c., from O.Fr. altercacion (12c.) and directly from L. altercationem (nom. altercatio) a dispute, debate, discussion, noun of action from pp. stem of altercari to dispute (with another), from alter other (see ALTER (Cf. alter)) … Etymology dictionary
altercation — *quarrel, wrangle, squabble, bickering, spat, tiff Analogous words: fight, conflict, combat, *contest: *discord, dissension, contention, difference, variance, strife: controversy, dispute, *argument Antonyms: concurrence: accord Contrasted words … New Dictionary of Synonyms
altercation — [n] fight, often verbal argument, beef*, bickering, blowup*, bone of contention*, brawl*, brush*, combat, contest, controversy, dispute, embroilment, flap*, fracas*, fuss, go*, hassle, quarrel, row, rumble*, run in*, set to*, squabbling, tiff*,… … New thesaurus
altercation — Altercation, Altercatio … Thresor de la langue françoyse
altercation — ► NOUN ▪ a noisy argument or disagreement. ORIGIN Latin, from altercari to wrangle … English terms dictionary
