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contention

 - 4 dictionary results

con⋅ten⋅tion

  [kuhn-ten-shuhn]
Use contention in a Sentence
–noun
1. a struggling together in opposition; strife.
2. a striving in rivalry; competition; contest.
3. strife in debate; dispute; controversy.
4. a point contended for or affirmed in controversy.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME (< AF) < L contentiōn- (s. of contentiō), equiv. to content(us), ptp. of contendere to contend (con- con- + tentus, var. of tēnsus; see tense 1 ) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms:
con⋅ten⋅tion⋅al, adjective

Synonyms:
1. conflict, combat. 3. disagreement, dissension, debate, altercation.

Antonyms:
3. agreement.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To contention
con·ten·tion   (kən-těn'shən)   
n.  

  1. The act or an instance of striving in controversy or debate. See Synonyms at discord.

  2. A striving to win in competition; rivalry: The teams met in fierce contention for first place.

  3. An assertion put forward in argument.


[Middle English contencioun, from Old French contention, from Latin contentiō, contentiōn-, from contentus, past participle of contendere, to contend; see contend.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

contention 
1382, from O.Fr. contention, from L. contentionem, from stem of contendere (see contend).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

contention

see bone of contention.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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