contestation

con·test

C0599600 (kŏn′tĕst′)n.1. A struggle for superiority or victory between rivals: England's contest with Spain for domination of the seas.2. A competition, especially one in which entrants perform separately and are rated by judges: a spelling contest.v. (kən-tĕst′, kŏn′tĕst′) con·test·ed, con·test·ing, con·tests v.tr.1. To compete or strive for; struggle to gain or control: trade routes that were contested by competing cultures.2. To call into question and take an active stand against; dispute or challenge: contest a will. See Synonyms at oppose.3. Sports To defend against (a shot), as in basketball.v.intr. To struggle or compete; contend: contested with other bidders for the antique.

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[Probably from French conteste, from contester, to dispute, from Old French, to call to witness, from Latin contestārī : com-, com- + testis, witness; see trei- in Indo-European roots.]

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con·test′a·ble adj.con′tes·ta′tion (kŏn′tĕ-stā′shən) n.con·test′er n.

con•tes•ta•tion

(ˌkɒn tɛˈsteɪ ʃən)

n. 1. the act of contesting; controversy; dispute. 2. an assertion contended for. [1540–50; (< Middle French) < Latin]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

contestation - a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement; "they were involved in a violent argument"controversy, disceptation, arguing, argument, contention, disputation, tiltdifference of opinion, dispute, difference, conflict - a disagreement or argument about something important; "he had a dispute with his wife"; "there were irreconcilable differences"; "the familiar conflict between Republicans and Democrats"argle-bargle, argy-bargy - a verbal dispute; a wrangling argumentfirestorm - an outburst of controversy; "the incident triggered a political firestorm"sparring - an argument in which the participants are trying to gain some advantagepolemic - a controversy (especially over a belief or dogma)fight - an intense verbal dispute; "a violent fight over the bill is expected in the Senate"

contestation

nounA hypothetical controversial proposition:contention, thesis.