Etymology of the English word contention
the English word
contentionderived from the Old French word
contentionderived from the Latin word
contentio (competition, struggle, effort; raising voice, speaking passionately, vigorously; stretching, tension; strenuous exercise)
derived from the Latin word
contentus (content, satisfied; tense, tight, strained)
derived from the Latin word
continere (hinder, contain, shut in; keep, hold, hang together; secure, maintain, sustain)
using the Latin prefix
con- (together)
derived from the Latin prefix
com-derived from the Latin word
cum (with)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*kom (near, with, together)
derived from the Medieval Latin word
tenere (hold, keep; comprehend; represent; support)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*ten-derived from the Latin word
contendere (compete, contend; hurl, shoot; direct; strain, tense; make effort; stretch, draw tight, make taut)
derived from the Latin word
tendere (to stretch; pitch tent, encamp; pull tight; stretch, spread, extend)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*ten-using the Latin prefix
con- (together)
derived from the Latin prefix
com-derived from the Latin word
cum (with)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*kom (near, with, together)
Date
The earliest known usage of contention in English dates from the 14th century.
Usage
Word found in Modern English
