Nearby Words
adjective
1.
tending to argument or strife; quarrelsome: a contentious crew.
2.
causing, involving, or characterized by argument or controversy: contentious issues.
3.
Law. pertaining to causes between contending parties.
Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English contenciose < Latin contentiōsus, equivalent to contenti(ō) contention + -ōsus -ous
1400–50; late Middle English contenciose < Latin contentiōsus, equivalent to contenti(ō) contention + -ōsus -ous
Related forms
con·ten·tious·ly, adverb
con·ten·tious·ness, noun
non·con·ten·tious, adjective
non·con·ten·tious·ly, adverb
o·ver·con·ten·tious, adjective
EXPANDo·ver·con·ten·tious·ly, adverb
o·ver·con·ten·tious·ness, noun
un·con·ten·tious, adjective
un·con·ten·tious·ly, adverb
un·con·ten·tious·ness, noun
COLLAPSESynonyms
1. disputatious, argumentative.
1. disputatious, argumentative.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Contentious
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is mercurial. Does it mean:
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Collins
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
contentious
early 15c., from Fr. contentieux, from L. contentiosus "quarrelsome," from contendere (see contend). Related: Contentiousness (1570s).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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