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con·ten·tious

(kən-tĕnshəs)

adj.

1. Given to contention; quarrelsome. See Synonyms at argumentative.

2. Involving or causing contention; controversial: "a central and contentious element of the book" (Tim W. Ferguson).

con·tentious·ly adv.

con·tentious·ness n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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