I.an eager stretching, a straining, exertion of the powers of body or mind, tension, effort, a vigorous struggling or striving for something, a struggle after (very freq. and in good prose).
I. In gen.
A. Prop.: “contentio et summissio vocis,” Cic. Off. 1, 41, 146; id. de Or. 1, 61, 261: “vocis,” id. Tusc. 2, 24, 56: “vocis aut lateris,” Plin. 26, 13, 85, § 137 al.: “gravitatis et ponderum,” of gravitation, Cic. N. D. 2, 45, 116: “animi (opp. relaxatio),” id. de Or. 2, 5, 21; cf. id. Arch. 6, 12 et saep.—With gen. of the object: “disputationis,” Cic. de Or. 3, 61, 230: “honorum (with ambitio),” id. Off. 1, 25, 87; cf. “palmae,” Quint. 1, 2, 24: “dignitatis,” id. 4, 5, 12; cf.: “libertatis dignitatisque,” Liv. 4, 6, 11 al.—
B. Transf.
1. Labored, formal speech (opp. talk, conversation): quoniam magna vis orationis est, eaque duplex, altera contentionis, altera sermonis; “contentio disceptationibus tribuatur judiciorum ... sermo in circulis, etc.,” Cic. Off. 1, 37, 132; 2, 14, 48 Heine ad loc.; cf.: sermo est oratio remissa et finitima cottidianae locutioni; “contentio est oratio acris, etc.,” Auct. Her. 3, 13, 23.—*
2. Gregum = admissura, Censor. 5.—
II. In partic.
A. (Acc. to contendo, II. B. 2.) A contest, contention, strife (with weapons or words), a fight, dispute, controversy (so most freq.): “contentiones proeliorum,” Cic. Off. 1, 26, 90; cf.: “magna belli,” id. Sest. 27, 58: “contentiones, quae cum inimicissimis fiunt,” id. Off. 1, 38, 137; so with cum, id. Phil. 2, 3, 7; id. Leg. 3, 11, 25 al.: “cum aliquo de aliquā re,” Quint. 4, 2, 132: “de aliquā re,” Cic. Leg. 3, 10, 24; Liv. 4, 6, 4; Quint. 5, 14, 12 al.: “adversus procuratores,” Tac. Agr. 9: “inter aliquos,” Cic. Sest. 21, 47; Quint. 10, 1, 47; Suet. Claud. 15 et saep.; cf.: “inter aliquos de aliquā re,” Cic. Ac. 2, 43, 132 et saep.: “contentionis cupidiores quam veritatis,” id. de Or. 1, 11, 47; Curt. 8, 4, 33.—
B. (Acc. to contendo, II. B. 3.) A comparison, contrast: “si contentio quaedam et comparatio fiat,” Cic. Off. 1, 17, 57; 1, 43, 152; cf. id. Inv. 1, 12, 17: “quaedam hominum ipsorum,” id. Planc. 2, 5; id. Inv. 2, 39, 114: “fortunarum,” id. Pis. 22, 51.—Hence,
2. T. t.
a. In rhetoric, a contrasting of one thought with another, antithesis, Auct. Her. 4, 15, 21; Cic. de Or. 3, 53, 203; Quint. 9, 1, 31; 9, 2, 2.—
b. In gram., comparison, Varr. L. L. 8, § 75 Müll.