#720. Contention. -- N. contention, strife; contest, contestation[obs]; struggle; belligerency; opposition &c. 708.
controversy, polemics; debate &c. (discussion) 476; war of words, logomachy[obs], litigation; paper war; high words &c. (quarrel) 713; sparring &c. v.
competition, rivalry; corrivalry[obs], corrivalship[obs], agonism|, concours[obs], match, race, horse racing, heat, steeple chase, handicap; regatta; field day; sham fight, Derby day; turf, sporting, bullfight, tauromachy[obs], gymkhana[obs]; boat race, torpids[obs].
wrestling, greco-roman wrestling; pugilism, boxing, fisticuffs, the manly art of self-defense; spar, mill, set-to, round, bout, event, prize fighting; quarterstaff, single stick; gladiatorship[obs], gymnastics; jiujitsu, jujutsu, kooshti[obs], sumo; athletics, athletic sports; games of skill &c. 840.
shindy[obs]; fracas &c. (discord) 713; clash of arms; tussle, scuffle, broil, fray; affray, affrayment|; velitation|; colluctation|, luctation[obs]; brabble[obs], brigue|, scramble, melee, scrimmage, stramash[obs], bushfighting[obs].
free fight, stand up fight, hand to hand, running fight.
conflict, skirmish; rencounter[obs], encounter; rencontre[obs], collision, affair, brush, fight; battle, battle royal; combat, action, engagement, joust, tournament; tilt, tilting [medieval times]; tournay[obs], list; pitched battle.
death struggle, struggle for life or death, life or death struggle, Armageddon[obs].
hard knocks, sharp contest, tug of war.
naval engagement, naumachia[obs], sea fight.
duel, duello[It]; single combat, monomachy[obs], satisfaction, passage d'armes[Fr], passage of arms, affair of honor; triangular duel; hostile meeting, digladiation[obs]; deeds of arms, feats of arms; appeal to arms &c. (warfare) 722.
pugnacity; combativeness &c. adj.; bone of contention &c. 713.
V. contend; contest, strive, struggle, scramble, wrestle; spar, square; exchange blows, exchange fisticuffs; fib|!, justle[obs], tussle, tilt, box, stave, fence; skirmish; pickeer[obs]; fight &c. (war) 722; wrangle &c. (quarrel) 713.
contend &c. with, grapple with, engage with, close with, buckle with, bandy with, try conclusions with, have a brush &c. n. with, tilt with; encounter, fall foul of, pitch into, clapperclaw[obs], run a tilt at; oppose &c. 708; reluct.
join issue, come to blows, go to loggerheads, set to, come to the scratch, exchange shots, measure swords, meet hand to hand; take up the cudgels, take up the glove, take up the gauntlet; enter the lists; couch one's lance; give satisfaction; appeal to arms &c. (warfare) 722.
lay about one; break the peace.
compete with, cope with, vie with, race with; outvie[obs], emulate, rival; run a race; contend &c. for, stipulate for, stickle for; insist upon, make a point of.
Adj. contending &c. v.; together by the ears, at loggerheads at war at issue.
competitive, rival; belligerent; contentious, combative, bellicose, unpeaceful[obs]; warlike &c. 722; quarrelsome &c. 901; pugnacious; pugilistic, gladiatorial; palestric[obs], palestrical[obs].
Phr. a verbis ad verbera[Lat]; a word and a blow; "a very pretty quarrel as it stands" [Sheridan]; commune periculum concordiam parit[Lat]; lis litem generat[Lat].