contentious
[kuh n-ten-shuh s]
- tending to argument or strife; quarrelsome: a contentious crew.
- causing, involving, or characterized by argument or controversy: contentious issues.
- Law. pertaining to causes between contending or opposing parties.
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Origin of contentious
1400–50; late Middle English contenciose < Latin contentiōsus, equivalent to contenti(ō) contention + -ōsus -ous
Synonyms
See more synonyms for contentious on Thesaurus.com1. disputatious, argumentative.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for contentiously
Historical Examples
"I can't go and say to him, 'Don't you fall in love with me,'" said Dawn contentiously.
Some Everyday Folk and DawnMiles Franklin
"Na, th' ben't one alive," said an old miner, contentiously.
Gordon KeithThomas Nelson Page
contentious
- tending to argue or quarrel
- causing or characterized by dispute; controversial
- law relating to a cause or legal business that is contested, esp a probate matter
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for contentiously
contentious
adj.
c.1500, from Middle French contentieux, from Latin contentiosus "obstinate, quarrelsome," from contentionem (see contend). Related: Contentiously; contentiousness.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper