Obs. Forms: 3–5 contek, 4 cuntek(e, -take, contac, 4–5 conteke, -tak, 4–6 contake, 5 contack, (contakt, 6 -tacte), 5–6 contecke, 6–7 conteck. [ME. contek, a. AF. contek, conteck, contec, of uncertain origin; according to M. Paul Meyer, found only in texts written in England, and, from the sense, not easy to be referred to OF. contekier, to touch, feel, concern, etc.: see next.] Strife or debate at law; contention, dissension, quarrelling, discord.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 117/381. Luyte an luyte þat contek sprong.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 470. So that contek sprong bituene hom mani volde.
c. 1300. Seven Sins, in E. E. P. (1862), 20. Anoþer wol after þan areri cuntake.
c. 1340. Ayenb., 40. Maystres of gyle and of contak.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1145. Contek with bloody knyf, and scharp manace.
14[?]. Tundale’s Vis., 35. He lovyd ay contakt and stryve.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., xxi. 19. Contak and werre aroos bytwene hem two.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, IV. iii. 17. Or now quhat nedis sa gret strif and contak?
1575. Gascoigne, in Turberv., Venerie, Pref. 11. Care doth contecke sew.
a. 1618. J. Davies, Eclogues (1772), 109. Is some conteck ’twixt thy love and thee?
b. with a and pl.
1340. Ayenb., 63. Þe gyles and þe contackes þet me deþ.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, V. 1479. Ther ros a contek and a gret enuye.
1548. Sir W. Forrest, Pleas. Poesye (MS. Reg. 17 D. iii. lf. 39). Contackes and grudgis in peace so too patche.
a. 1577. Gascoigne, Wks. (1587), 120. All quarrls conteks, and all cruell tarres.
c. Contumely.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 49. [Thei] token þis kyngis servauntis and punishiden wiþ conteke and killiden hem. Ibid. (1382), Matt. xxii. 6. The other helden his seruauntis, and slowen hem, ponished with contek [v.r. dispisynges; Vulg. contumeliis affectos]. Ibid., Luke xx. 11. Betinge this, and ponyschynge with dispisingis [10 MSS. cuntekis, or wrongis; Vulg. afficientes contumelia].
