Contentious jurisdiction (Eng. Eccl. Law), jurisdiction over matters in controversy between parties, in contradistinction to voluntary jurisdiction, or that exercised upon matters not opposed or controverted.
Syn. -- Quarrelsome; pugnacious; dissentious; wrangling; litigious; perverse; peevish.
-- Con*ten"tious*ly, adv. -- Con*ten"tious*ness, n.
Con*tent"less (?), a. [Content + -less.] Discontented; dissatisfied. [R.] Shak.