altercation

Etymology

Borrowed from French altercation, from Latin altercātiō, from altercātor, from alter, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂élteros (“the other of two”).

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ɔl.tɚˈkeɪ.ʃən/
• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

altercation (countable and uncountable, plural altercations)

1. Warm contention in words; dispute carried on with heat or anger; controversy; wrangle; verbal contest.
   • 1914, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Valley of Fear:

     "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.

Anagrams

• relactation

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin altercatio

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /al.tɛʁ.ka.sjɔ̃/
• Rhymes: -ɔ̃
• Homophone: altercations

Noun

altercation f (plural altercations)

1. Altercation

Further reading

• “altercation” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).