What does "contentious" mean?
Contentious: Relating to contention or strife; involving or characterized by contention. Spenser. More cheerfull; though not less contentious, regions. Brougham.
Additional senses
- 2.(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. - Con*ten"tious*ly, adv. -- Con*ten"tious*ness, n.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00