Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PO-LEM'IC, or PO-LEM'IC-AL, a. [Gr. πολεμικος, from πολεμος, war.]

1. Controversial; disputative; intended to maintain an opinion or system in opposition to others; as, a polemic treatise, discourse, essay or book; polemic divinity.
2. Engaged in supporting an opinion or system by controversy; as, a polemic writer. South.