Word of the day: Polemics

[ambitious_wench]

po·lem·ic     
n.
A controversial argument, especially one refuting or attacking a specific opinion or doctrine.

A person engaged in or inclined to controversy, argument, or refutation.


adj. also po·lem·i·cal (--kl)
Of or relating to a controversy, argument, or refutation.


[French polémique, from Greek polemikos, hostile, from polemos, war.]

The reason I chose this word is because I ran across it in an article about Ann Coulter and realized I really didn't know what it meant. I thought it might have been related to polarizing, as in to extreme ends of the same stick. I was wrong, obviously. Although I have to wonder if there isn't a distant relationship. (BTW, she used the word to describe herself)

Note that it comes form the Greek polemikos meaning "hostile".

There, now go out and look for polemicists in your community. The shit stirrer, the obstructionist, the argumentative.

Comments

[djfiggy.livejournal.com]

Virginia Woolf's A Room Of One's Own is an example of a polemic text.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I like being polemic.

[ambitious-wench.livejournal.com]

So do I. Let us celebrate our polemicity together!

*grin*
Edie