altercate

UK: /ˈɔːltəˌkeɪt/ US: (ôl′tər kāt′)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

al•ter•cate  (ôl′tər kāt′), v.i., -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 

1. to argue or quarrel with zeal, heat, or anger;
   wrangle.

• Latin altercātus (past participle of altercārī to quarrel), equivalent. to *alterc(us) a disputing (alter other + -cus formative suffix) + -ātus -ate¹
• 1530–40

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

altercate / ˈɔːltəˌkeɪt/ verb

1. (intransitive) to argue, esp heatedly; dispute

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin altercārī to quarrel with another, from alter other