Main Entry: po·lem·ic

Pronunciation: \pə-ˈle-mik\

Function: noun

Etymology: French polémique, from Middle French, from polemique controversial, from Greek polemikos warlike, hostile, from polemos war; perhaps akin to Greek pelemizein to shake, Old English ealfelo baleful

Date: 1638

1 a : an aggressive attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another b : the art or practice of disputation or controversy —usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction
2 : an aggressive controversialist : disputant

— po·lem·i·cist \-ˈle-mə-sist\ noun