| 释义 |
contentious, a.|kənˈtɛnʃəs|
Also 5 -tempcious, -tenciose, 6 -cious(e.
[ad. F. contentieux:—L. contentiōsus given to contention, quarrelsome: see contention and -ous.]
1. Of persons or their dispositions: Given to contention; prone to strife or dispute; quarrelsome.
1533Frith Answ. More (1829) 445 That you accept this worke with..no contentious hart. 1611Bible Prov. xxi. 19 It is better to dwell in the wildernesse, then with a contentious and an angry woman. 1682Burnet Rights Princes i. 13 If two or three out of a contentious humour opposed it. 1732Berkeley Alciphr. v. §19 The most contentious, quarrelsome, disagreeing crew. 1853Macaulay Biog. Atterbury (1867) 14 His despotic and contentious temper.
b. transf.
1605Shakes. Lear iii. iv. 6 Thou think'st 'tis much that this contentious storme Inuades vs to the skin. 1610― Temp. ii. i. 118. 1695 Blackmore Pr. Arth. i. 455 She makes contentious Winds forget their Strife.
†c. Bellicose, warlike. Obs.
1535Coverdale 2 Sam. xxi. 20 And there arose yet warre at Gath, where there was a contencious man which had sixe fyngers on his handes. ― 2 Kings xix. 25 That contencious stronge cities mighte fall in to a waist heap of stones.
2. Characterized by or involving contention.
c1430tr. T. à Kempis 119 To stryue wiþ contenciose wordes. 1535Joye Apol. Tindale 49 To wryte any maliciouse and contenciouse pistle agenst him. 1647Proposals of Army in Neal Hist. Purit. III. 412 The present unequal, and troublesome, and contentious way of ministers' maintenance by Tithes. 1751Johnson Rambler No. 142 ⁋8 A contentious and spiteful vindication. 1875Gladstone Glean. VI. liii. 170 Forbearing to raise contentious issues.
3. Law. Of or pertaining to differences between contending parties. contentious jurisdiction: right of jurisdiction in causes between contending parties.
1483Caxton Gold. Leg. 427/1 Wel letterd, as it apperyd sythe, as wel in contempcious jugemente as gyuyng counceyll to the sowles upon the fayte of theyr conscyence. 1727–51Chambers Cycl. s.v., The Lords Chief Justices, judges, etc. have a contentious jurisdiction. 1768Blackstone Comm. III. 65 Such ecclesiastical courts, as have only what is called a voluntary and not a contentious jurisdiction. 1875Stubbs Const. Hist. I. 233 In contentious suits it is difficult to draw the line between judicial decision and arbitration. |