Contest vs Affray - What's the difference?

Contest is a related term of affray.

As nouns the difference between contest and affray

is that contest is (uncountable) controversy; debate while affray is the act of suddenly disturbing any one; an assault or attack.

As verbs the difference between contest and affray

is that contest is to contend while affray is to startle from quiet; to alarm.

contest

English

Noun

(uncountable) Controversy; debate.

no contest

(uncountable) Struggle for superiority; combat.

(countable) A competition.

The child entered the spelling contest .

Synonyms

* (controversy) controversy, debate, discussion * (combat) battle, combat, fight * (competition) competition, pageant

Derived terms

(Terms derived from the noun "contest") * contest shape * fashion contest * no contest * pissing contest * popularity contest * wet t-shirt contest * will contest

Verb

(en verb)

To contend.

I will contest for the open seat on the board.

* Alexander Pope

Of man, who dares in pomp with Jove contest ?

* Bishop Burnet

The difficulty of an argument adds to the pleasure of contesting with it, when there are hopes of victory.

To call into question; to oppose.

The rival contested the dictator's re-election because of claims of voting irregularities.

* J. D. Morell

Few philosophical aphorisms have been more frequently repeated, few more contested than this.

To strive earnestly to hold or maintain; to struggle to defend.

The troops contested every inch of ground.

(legal) To make a subject of litigation; to defend, as a suit; to dispute or resist, as a claim, by course of law; to controvert.

Synonyms

* (contend) compete, contend, go in for * (oppose) call into question, oppose

Antonyms

* (oppose) support

affray

English

Noun

(en noun)

The act of suddenly disturbing any one; an assault or attack.

A tumultuous assault or quarrel.

The fighting of two or more persons, in a public place, to the terror of others.

The affray in the busy marketplace caused great terror and disorder.

Synonyms

* fray, brawl. * alarm, terror, fright.

Verb

(en verb)

To startle from quiet; to alarm.

* Chaucer

Smale foules a great heap / That had afrayed [affrayed] me out of my sleep.

To frighten; to scare; to frighten away.

* Shakespeare

That voice doth us affray .