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Contention; dispute; debate; discussion; agitation of contrary opinions. This left no room for controversy about the title. Locke. A dispute is commonly oral, and a controversy in writing. Johnson.

Liable to be debated; disputable; subject to controversy or contention; open to question or dispute; as, a debatable question. The Debatable Land or Ground, a tract of land between the Esk and the Sark, claimed by both England and Scotland; the Batable Ground.

Contention in words or arguments; discussion for the purpose of elucidating truth or influencing action; strife in argument; controversy; as, the debates in Parliament or in Congress. Heard, noted, answer'd, as in full debate. Pope.

Full of contention; contentious; quarrelsome. [Obs.] Spenser.

With contention. [Obs.]

Contest for mastery; contention; strife. [R.] Arnway.

rrel; hence, cause of dissension; matter in controversy. What was the difference It was a contention in public. Shak. Away therefore went I with the constable, leaving the old warden and the young constable to compose their difference as they could. T. Ellwood.

ord or agreement; absence of unity or harmony in sentiment or action; variance leading to contention and strife; disagreement; -- applied to persons or to things, and to thoughts, feelings, or purposes. A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Prov. vi. 19. Peace to arise out of un…

eement in opinion, usually of a violent character, producing warm debates or angry words; contention in words; partisan and contentious divisions; breach of friendship and union; strife; discord; quarrel. Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them. Acts xv. 2. Debates, dissension, uproars are t…

To throw into confusion or commotion by contention or discord; to entangle in a broil or quarrel; to make confused; to distract; to involve in difficulties by dissension or strife. The royal house embroiled in civil war. Dryden.

companionship; partnership; association; hence, confederation; joint interest. The great contention of the sea and skies Parted our fellowship. Shak. Fellowship in pain divides not smart. Milton. Fellowship in woe doth woe assuage. Shak. The goodliest fellowship of famous knights, Whereof this world holds record. Tenn…

A contention or quarrel; especially, an inveterate strife between families, clans, or parties; deadly hatred; contention satisfied only by bloodshed. Mutual feuds and battles betwixt their several tribes and kindreds. Purchas.

One who inflames factions, or causes contention and mischief; an incendiary. Bacon.

Contention; strife; scolding; specif., a kind of metrical contest between two persons, popular in Scotland in the 16th century. [Obs. or Scot.]

Promoting faction or contention; seditious; inflammatory. [Obs.] Bacon. -- In*cen"di*ous*ly, adv. [Obs.]

Subject to contention; disputable; controvertible; debatable; doubtful; precarious. Shak. No fences, parted fields, nor marks, nor bounds, Distinguished acres of litigious grounds. Dryden.

Contention in words merely, or a contention about words; a war of words. The discussion concerning the meaning of the word " justification" . . . has largely been a mere logomachy. L. Abbott.

One who excites contentions and quarrels. [Obs.]

to encourage; to foster; as, to nourish rebellion; to nourish the virtues. "Nourish their contentions." Hooker.

A quarrel; a contention. [Scot.] Jamieson.