Chapter Contemplatively to Contents of C by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

2. Strife in words; controversy; altercation; quarrel; dispute; as, a bone of contention.

Contentions and strivings about the law.
Titus iii. 9.

3. Vehemence of endeavor; eagerness; ardor; zeal.

An end . . . worthy our utmost contention to obtain.
Rogers.

4. A point maintained in an argument, or a line of argument taken in its support; the subject matter of discussion or strife; a position taken or contended for.

All men seem agreed what is to be done; the contention is how the subject is to be divided and defined.
Bagehot.

This was my original contention, and I still maintain that you should abide by your former decision.
Jowett.

Syn. — Struggle; strife; contest; quarrel; combat; conflict; feud; litigation; controversy; dissension; variance; disagreement; debate; competition; emulation. — Contention, Strife. A struggle between two parties is the idea common to these two words. Strife is a struggle for mastery; contention is a struggle for the possession of some desired object, or the accomplishment of some favorite end. Neither of the words is necessarily used in a bad sense, since there may be a generous strife or contention between two friends as to which shall incur danger or submit to sacrifices. Ordinarily, however, these words denote a struggle arising from bad passions. In that case, strife usually springs from a quarrelsome temper, and contention from, a selfish spirit which seeks its own aggrandizement, or is fearful lest others should obtain too much. Strife has more reference to the manner than to the object of a struggle, while contention takes more account of the end to be gained.

Contentious
(Con*ten"tious) a. [L. contentiosus: cf. F. contentieux.]

1. Fond of contention; given to angry debate; provoking dispute or contention; quarrelsome.

Despotic and contentious temper.
Macaulay.

2. Relating to contention or strife; involving or characterized by contention. Spenser.

More cheerful, though not less contentious, regions.
Brougham.

3. (Law) Contested; litigated; litigious; having power to decide controversy.

Contentious jurisdiction (Eng. Eccl. Law), jurisdiction over matters in controversy between parties, in contradistinction to voluntary jurisdiction, or that exercised upon matters not opposed or controverted.

Syn. — Quarrelsome; pugnacious; dissentious; wrangling; litigious; perverse; peevish.

— Con*ten"tious*ly, adv. — Con*ten"tious*ness, n.

Contentless
(Con*tent"less) a. [Content + -less.] Discontented; dissatisfied. [R.] Shak.

Contently
(Con*tent"ly), adv. In a contented manner. [Obs.]

Contentment
(Con*tent"ment) n. [Cf. F. contentement. See Content, v. t.]

1. The state of being contented or satisfied; content.

Contentment without external honor is humility.
Grew.

Godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Tim. vi. 6.

2. The act or process of contenting or satisfying; as, the contentment of avarice is impossible.