Al’ter-cā’tion, n.

(Synop., § 130), n. [Lat. & Fr. alter-catio, Fr. altercation.] Warm contention in words; dispute carried on with heat or anger; controversy; wrangle.

As if the constitution of our country were to be always a subject rather of altercation than enjoyment. Burke.

Synonyms—Dispute; contest; wrangle.—ALTERCATION, DISPUTE, WRANGLE. The term dispute is in most cases, but not necessarily, applied to a verbal contest; as, a dispute on the lawfulness of war. An altercation is an angry dispute between two parties, involving an interchange of severe language. A wrangle is a confused and noisy altercation.

Dispute it like a man.

I shall do so; But I must also feel it as a man. Shak.

Their whole life was little else than a perpetual wrangling and altercation. Bakewell.