The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Controversy \Con"tro*ver`sy\, n.; pl. Controversies. [L.
   controversia, fr. controversus turned against, disputed;
   contro- = contra + versus, p. p. of vertere to turn. See
   Verse.]
   1. Contention; dispute; debate; discussion; agitation of
      contrary opinions.
      [1913 Webster]

            This left no room for controversy about the title.
                                                  --Locke.
      [1913 Webster]

            A dispute is commonly oral, and a controversy in
            writing.                              --Johnson.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Quarrel; strife; cause of variance; difference.
      [1913 Webster]

            The Lord hath a controversy with the nations. --Jer.
                                                  xxv. 31.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A suit in law or equity; a question of right. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            When any man that had a controversy came to the king
            for judgment.                         --2 Sam. xv.
                                                  2.

   Syn: Dispute; debate; disputation; disagreement; altercation;
        contention; wrangle; strife; quarrel.
        [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

controversy
    n 1: a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong
         disagreement; "they were involved in a violent argument"
         [syn: controversy, contention, contestation,
         disputation, disceptation, tilt, argument,
         arguing]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

108 Moby Thesaurus words for "controversy":
   Kilkenny cats, altercation, antagonism, apologetics, apologia,
   apology, argument, argumentation, bicker, bickering, blood feud,
   brawl, broil, casuistry, cat-and-dog life, clashing, combat,
   conflict, confrontation, contention, contentiousness, contest,
   contestation, contradiction, cut and thrust, debate, defense,
   difference, disaccord, disaccordance, disagreement, discord,
   discordance, discordancy, discrepancy, disharmony, disparity,
   disputation, dispute, dissension, dissent, dissidence, dissonance,
   disunion, disunity, divergence, diversity, donnybrook,
   donnybrook fair, embroilment, enmity, faction, falling-out, feud,
   fight, fighting, fliting, flyting, fracas, fuss, hassle, hostility,
   hubbub, hurrah, imbroglio, inaccordance, inequality, jarring,
   litigation, logomachy, miff, negation, open quarrel, opposition,
   oppugnancy, paper war, passage of arms, polemic, polemics, quarrel,
   quarreling, quarrelsomeness, questioning, repugnance, rhubarb,
   rumpus, scrapping, set-to, sharp words, slanging match, snarl,
   spat, squabble, squabbling, strife, struggle, tiff, tussle,
   unharmoniousness, variance, vendetta, verbal engagement, war,
   war of words, warfare, words, wrangle, wrangling



Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

CONTROVERSY. A dispute arising between two or more persons. It differs from
case, which includes all suits criminal as well as civil; whereas
controversy is a civil and not a criminal proceeding. 2 Dall. R. 419, 431,
432; 1 Tuck. Bl. Com. App. 420, 421; Story, Const. Sec. 1668.
     2. By the constitution of the United States the judicial power shall
extend to controversies to which the United States shall be a party. Art. 2,
1. The meaning to be attached to the word controversy in the constitution,
is that above given.



The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):

CONTROVERSY, n.  A battle in which spittle or ink replaces the
injurious cannon-ball and the inconsiderate bayonet.

    In controversy with the facile tongue --
    That bloodless warfare of the old and young --
    So seek your adversary to engage
    That on himself he shall exhaust his rage,
    And, like a snake that's fastened to the ground,
    With his own fangs inflict the fatal wound.
    You ask me how this miracle is done?
    Adopt his own opinions, one by one,
    And taunt him to refute them; in his wrath
    He'll sweep them pitilessly from his path.
    Advance then gently all you wish to prove,
    Each proposition prefaced with, "As you've
    So well remarked," or, "As you wisely say,
    And I cannot dispute," or, "By the way,
    This view of it which, better far expressed,
    Runs through your argument."  Then leave the rest
    To him, secure that he'll perform his trust
    And prove your views intelligent and just.
                                                    Conmore Apel Brune