A heated disagreement or argument between parties. It can also refer to an assertion or claim made in debate, or the act of competing for something.
From Old French contention, from Latin contentio meaning 'a striving, struggle,' from contendere 'to strive, contest,' from com- 'with' + tendere 'to stretch.' Originally meant physical struggle, later extended to verbal disputes and competitive situations.
In legal contexts, 'contention' specifically refers to the main arguments each side presents in court, which is why lawyers often say 'my contention is...' It's fascinating that the word literally means 'stretching together' - like a tug-of-war where both sides pull in opposite directions.
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