Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON-TENT'FUL, a.

Full of contentment. [Not used.] – Barrow.

CON-TEN'TION, n. [L. contentio. See Contend.]

1. Strife; struggle; a violent effort to obtain something, or to resist a person, claim or injury; contest; quarrel. Multitudes lost their lives in a tumult raised by contention among the partisans of the several colors. – Adam.
2. Strife in words or debate; quarrel; angry contest; controversy. Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law. – Tit. iii. A fool's lips enter into contention. Prov. xviii.
3. Strife or endeavor to excel; emulation. – Shak.
4. Eagerness; zeal; ardor; vehemence of endeavor. [Obs.] This is an end worthy of our utmost contention to obtain. – Rogers.

CON-TEN'TIOUS, a. [Fr. contentieux; It contenzioso.]

1. Apt to contend; given to angry debate; quarrelsome; perverse. A continual dropping in a rainy day, and a contentious woman are alike. Prov. xxvii.
2. Relating to contention in law; relating to litigation; having power to decide causes between contending parties; as, a court of contentious jurisdiction. – Blackstone.
3. Exciting or adapted to provoke contention or disputes; as, a contentious subject. – Milner.

CON-TEN'TIOUS-LY, adv.

In a contentious manner; quarrelsomely; perversely. – Brown.

CON-TEN'TIOUS-NESS, n.

A disposition to contend; proneness to contest; perverseness; quarrelsomeness. – Bentley.

CON-TENT'LESS, a.

Discontented; dissatisfied; uneasy. – Shak.

CON-TENT'LY, adv.

In a contented way. [Obs.]

CON-TENT'MENT, n. [Fr. contentement.]

1. Content; a resting or satisfaction of mind without disquiet; acquiescence. Contentment, without external honor, is humility. – Grew. Godliness with contentment is great gain. – 1 Tim. vi.
2. Gratification. At Paris the prince spent a day, to give his mind some contentment. – Wotton.

CON-TERM'IN-A-BLE, a. [L. con and terminus.]

Capable of the same bounds. – Wotton.

CON-TERM'IN-ATE, a.

Having the same bounds. – B. Jonson.

CON-TERM'IN-OUS, a. [L. conterminus; con and terminus, a border.]

Bordering upon; touching at the boundary; contiguous; as, a people conterminous to the Roman territory.

CON-TER-RA'NE-AN, or CON-TER-RA'NE-OUS, a. [L. conterraneus; con and terra, country.]

Being of the same country. [Not used.] – Dict.

CON'TEST, n.

1. Strife; struggle for victory, superiority, or in defense; struggle in arms. All Europe engaged in the contest against France. The contest was furious.
2. Dispute; debate; violent controversy; strife in argument. Leave all noisy contests, all immodest clamors and brawling language. – Watts.

CON-TEST', v.i.

1. To strive; to contend; followed by with. The difficulty of an argument adds to the pleasure of contesting with it, when there are hopes of victory. – Burnet.
2. To vie; to emulate. Of man who dares in pomp with Jove contest. – Pope.

CON-TEST', v.t. [Fr. contester, to dispute. The Sp. and Port. contestar, and L. contestor, have a different sense, being equivalent to the Eng. attest. See Test.]

1. To dispute; to strive earnestly to hold or maintain; to struggle to defend. The troops contested every inch of ground.
2. To dispute; to argue in opposition to; to controvert; to litigate; to oppose; to call in question; as, the advocate contested every point. None have contested the proportion of these ancient pieces. – Dryden.

CON-TEST'A-BLE, a.

That may be disputed or debated; disputable; controvertible.

CON-TEST'A-BLE-NESS, n.

Possibility of being contested.

CON-TEST-A'TION, n.

1. The act of contesting; strife; dispute. After years spent in domestic contestations, she found means to withdraw. – Clarendon.
2. Testimony; proof by witnesses. – Barrow.

CON-TEST'ED, pp.

Disputed.

CON-TEST'ING, n.

The act of contending. – Baxter.

CON-TEST'ING, ppr.

Disputing.

CON-TEST'ING-LY, adv.

In a contending manner. – Mountagu.

CON'TEST-LESS, a.

Not to be disputed. – Hill.

CON-TEX', v.t.

To weave together. [Not used.] – Boyle.

CON-TEXT', a.

Knit or woven together; close; firm. – Derham.