c. 1600, "dispute (something), oppose by argument" (a sense now obsolete); 1610s, "to make the subject of verbal contention, debate, discuss; contend against (someone) in argument," probably a back-formation from controversy. Related: Controverted; controverting; controvertible.

"too clear or certain to admit of dispute or controversy," 1640s, from in- (1) "not" + controvertible (see controvert). Related: Incontrovertibly; incontrovertibility.