con·test • n. / ˈkänˌtest/ an event in which people compete for supremacy in a sport, activity, or particular quality: a beauty contest. ∎  a competition for a political position: the mayoral contest. ∎  a dispute or conflict: a contest between traditional and liberal views.• v. / kənˈtest; ˈkänˌtest/ [tr.] 1. engage in competition to attain (a position of power). ∎  take part in (a competition or election).2. oppose (an action, decision, or theory) as mistaken or wrong: the former chairman contests his dismissal. ∎  engage in dispute about: the issues have been hotly contested.PHRASES: no contest1. another term for nolo contendere: he pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts.2. a competition, comparison, or choice of which the outcome is a foregone conclusion: when the two teams faced each other it was no contest. ∎  a decision by the referee to declare a boxing match invalid on the grounds that one or both of the boxers are not making serious efforts.DERIVATIVES: con·test·a·ble / kənˈtestəbəl/ adj.con·test·er / kənˈtestər; ˈkänˌtes-/ n.ORIGIN: late 16th cent. (as a verb in the sense ‘swear to, attest’): from Latin contestari ‘call upon to witness, initiate an action (by calling witnesses),’ from con- ‘together’ + testare ‘to witness.’ The senses ‘wrangle, strive, struggle for’ arose in the early 17th cent., whence the current noun and verb senses.

contest †bear witness to XVI; contend for, dispute XVII. — L. contestārī call to witness, introduce (a suit) by calling witnesses, set on foot (an action), f. CON- + testārī bear witness.
Hence, or — F. conteste (f. the corr. vb.), contest sb. wordy strife, (gen.) conflict. XVII.

CONTEST

To defend against an adverse claim made in a court by a plaintiff or a prosecutor; to challenge a position asserted in a judicial proceeding, as to contest the probate of a will.