Definitions from Black's Law Dictionary: 2nd Edition and Ballentine's Law Dictionary as are available for each term in each dictionary.
  • Black's Law Dictionary: 2nd Edition

    To make defense to an adverse claim In a court of law; to oppose, resist or dispute the case made by a plaintiff. Pratt v. Breckinridge, 112 Ky. 1, 65 S. W. 136; Parks v. State, 100 Ala. 634, 13 South. 756.
    —Contestation of snit. In an ecolesiastical cause, that stage of the suit which is reached when the defendant has answered the libel by giving in an allegation.
    —Contested election. This phrase has no technical or legally defined meaning. An election may be said to be contested whenever an objection is formally urged against it which, if found to be true in fact, would invalidate it This is true bath as to objections founded upon some constitutional provision and to such as are based on statutes. Robertson v. State, 109 Ind. 116, 10 N. El 600.