contention
(kənˈtɛnʃən)
Also 4–5 -cioun, 5–6 -cion, 6 -tioun, -tione.
[a. F. contention, ad. L. contentiōn-em, n. of action from contendĕre to contend. (OF. had orig. the inherited form cunten{cced}un, conten{cced}on.)]
1. The action of straining or striving earnestly; earnest exertion, effort, endeavour. Obs. or arch.
| c 1580 Rogers (J.), An end which..appears worthy our utmost contention to obtain. 1581 Nowell & Day in Confer. i. (1584) C iij b, Which wordes he pronounced with..great contention of voice. 1640 Bp. Reynolds Passions xxv, An earnest contention of the minde in the pursuit of that good which should perfect our Natures. 1653 H. More Antid. Ath. i. xi. (1712) 34 A joint contention of Strength. 1858 Herschel Outlines Astron. Introd. 8 The contention of mind for which they [these enquiries] call is enormous. |
2. The action of contending or striving together in opposition; strife, dispute, verbal controversy.
bone of contention: see bone n. 7.
| 1382 Wyclif Phil. i. 17 Summe of contencioun, or stryfe, schewen Crist not clenly. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvi. lxxi. (1495) 576 The stone Onix..meueth the herte to contencion and debate. 1529 More Dyaloge i. Wks. 121/1 A great matter in contencion & debate betwene them. 1585 Abp. Sandys Serm. Matt. viii. 23 (1841) 381 The church..is by outward persecution and inward contention..troubled. 1655 W. F. Meteors 140 Of Amber is great contention, whether it be a minerall, or the Sperme of a Whale. 1772 Priestley Inst. Relig. (1782) I. 83 Excess frequently gives occasion to quarrelling and contention. 1806 Gazetteer Scotl. (ed. 2) 527 This fortress was frequently the scene of bloody contention. 1876 J. H. Newman Hist. Sk. I. i. iv. 176 Religious contention broke out in Bagdad itself, between the rigid and the lax parties. |
| transf. and fig. 1604 Shakes. Oth. ii. i. 92 The great Contention of Sea, and Skies. 1818 Hallam Mid. Ages (1872) II. 147 One long contention of fraud against robbery. |
b. (with a and pl.) A particular act of strife; a quarrel, contest, dispute.
| c 1450 Merlin xxi. 366 Whan the kynge Bohors vndirstode the contencion of the kynge and his nevewes. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, i. ii. 6 No Quarrell, but a slight Contention. 1611 Bible Prov. xviii. 18 The lot causeth contentions to cease. 1661 Bramhall Just Vind. i. 7 Such were the contentions of the Roman and African Bishops. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones x. ii, Jones..interposing, a fierce contention arose. 1872 Yeats Growth Comm. 225 Contentions with the home government were frequent. |
c. = tenson, q.v.
| 1883 A. H. Wodehouse in Grove Dict. Mus. III. 585 The tensons, or contentions, were metrical dialogues of lively repartee on some disputed point of gallantry. |
3. The action of contending in rivalry or emulation; competition. With a and pl.: An act or instance of rivalry; a trial of skill or ability.
| 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 254 These and such like contentions..many have attempted, and thereby wonne commendation. 1606 L. Bryskett Civ. Life 69 For contention of valor..Alexander granted a combat betweene Diosippus and his aduersary. 1633 J. Done tr. Aristeas' Hist. Septuagint 180 Betwixt us, I would kindle a kinde contention, and emulation of aymiable Vertue. 1743 Fielding J. Wild i. iv, Engaging with him at cards, in which contentions..the Count was greatly skilful. 1829 Scott Anne of G. iii, As if there had been a contention among them who should do the honours of the house. |
† b. The matter in competition. Obs.
| 1712 Steele Spect. No. 422 ¶6 One would think..that the Contention is, who shall be most disagreeable. |
4. That which is contended for in argument; the point or thesis which a person strives to maintain and prove.
| 1635 E. Pagitt Christianogr. (1646) i. 134 In this their contention, they mean nothing else, but that there are two natures in Christ. 1865 Ch. Times 2 Dec., Their contention is, that the ‘Romanizers’, etc. 1878 Black Green Past. I. 3 This then is your contention—that a vast number of women, etc. 1883 Sir J. Bacon in Law Rep. 23 Chanc. Div. 697 Mr. Williams' contention is without a shadow of support. |
¶ 5. Contrast, comparison. Obs. [A Latinism.]
| 1530 Whitinton Tullyes Offices i. xvii, But if contencyon and comparyson be made. |
¶ 6. = contentation. Obs.
| 1516 Cartulary in Plumpton Corr. p. cxxv, What overplus may be saved towards the contencion of the said debts. 1579–8 North Plutarch's Lives 65 (R.) Such men as place felicity..in the quiet safety, peace, and concord of a commonweal, and in clemency, justice, joyned with contention. |
¶ 7. app. = Continuance; cf. contene, contain 17.
| 1666 J. Smith Old Age (1752) 13 Two words [days and years] to express the contention of this state..viz. how long this state shall remain. |