Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Contention \Con*ten"tion\, n. [F. contention, L. contentio. See
   {Contend}.]
   1. A violent effort or struggle to obtain, or to resist,
      something; contest; strife.

            I would my arms could match thee in contention.
                                                  --Shak.

   2. Strife in words; controversy; altercation; quarrel;
      dispute; as, a bone of contention.

            Contentions and strivings about the law. --Titus
                                                  iii. 9.

   3. Vehemence of endeavor; eagerness; ardor; zeal.

            An end . . . worthy our utmost contention to obtain.
                                                  --Rogers.

   4. A point maintained in an argument, or a line of argument
      taken in its support; the subject matter of discussion or
      strife; a position taken or contended for.

            All men seem agreed what is to be done; the
            contention is how the subject is to be divided and
            defined.                              --Bagehot.

            This was my original contention, and I still
            maintain that you should abide by your former
            decision.                             --Jowett.

   Syn: Struggle; strife; contest; quarrel; combat; conflict;
        feud; litigation; controversy; dissension; variance;
        disagreement; debate; competition; emulation.

   Usage: {Contention}, {Strife}. A struggle between two parties
          is the idea common to these two words. Strife is a
          struggle for mastery; contention is a struggle for the
          possession of some desired object, or the
          accomplishment of some favorite end. Neither of the
          words is necessarily used in a bad sense, since there
          may be a generous strife or contention between two
          friends as to which shall incur danger or submit to
          sacrifices. Ordinarily, however, these words denote a
          struggle arising from bad passions. In that case,
          strife usually springs from a quarrelsome temper, and
          contention from, a selfish spirit which seeks its own
          aggrandizement, or is fearful lest others should
          obtain too much. Strife has more reference to the
          manner than to the object of a struggle, while
          contention takes more account of the end to be gained.

Source : WordNet®

contention
     n 1: a point asserted as part of an argument
     2: a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong
        disagreement; "they were involved in a violent argument"
        [syn: {controversy}, {contestation}, {disputation}, {disceptation},
         {tilt}, {argument}, {arguing}]
     3: the act of competing as for profit or a prize; "the teams
        were in fierce contention for first place" [syn: {competition},
         {rivalry}] [ant: {cooperation}]