dissension means an act of expressing dissent, especially spoken.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, dissension ranks #197 of 12,955 for Most Malleable Words, #723 of 12,955 for Most Elegant Words, #3,159 of 12,956 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #3,624 of 12,955 for Most Incisive Words.
dissension is pronounced /dɪˈsɛnʃən/.
Why “dissension” is a great word
The active state of strife and discord arising from strong disagreement within a group. From Middle English dissencioun, from Middle French dissention, from Old French dissension, from Latin dissensio, from dissensus, past participle of dissentire ("to differ in sentiment, disagree"), from dis- ("apart") + sentire ("to feel, think"). Unlike "disagreement," a general lack of consensus, or "dissent," an individual's principled objection, dissension is the bitter fruit of that difference ripened into factional conflict. It is the hissed accusation in the council chamber, the hardened faction in the once-unified ranks, and the cold silence where common purpose used to hum—the inevitable tax on any collective that dares to think and feel.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English dissencioun, from Middle French dissention, discention, from Old French dissension, from Latin dissensio.
noun
- An act of expressing dissent, especially spoken.
- Strong disagreement; a contention or quarrel; discord.“[…]wherby at the last shuld have sourded discention amonge the people, they beinge seperately enclined towarde theyr naturall souerayne lorde[…]”
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