contention

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English

Etymology

From Middle English contencion, borrowed from Old French contencion, from Latin contentio, contentionem, from contendō (past participle contentus); equivalent to contend +‎ -tion (similar formation to attention).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kənˈtɛnʃən/
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: con‧ten‧tion

Noun

contention (countable and uncountable, plural contentions)

  1. Argument, contest, debate, strife, struggle.
  2. A point maintained in an argument, or a line of argument taken in its support; the subject matter of discussion of strife; a position taken or contended for.
    It is my contention that state lotteries are taxes on stupid people.
  3. (computing, telecommunications) Competition by parts of a system or its users for a limited resource.

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Related terms

Related terms of contention

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Further reading

Old French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin contentio, contentionem. Cf. the inherited form contençon, and see also tençon.

Noun

contention oblique singularf (oblique plural contentions, nominative singular contention, nominative plural contentions)

  1. dispute; quarrel; disagreement

Related terms

Descendants

  • English: contention
  • French: contention