φιλονεικέω (philoneikeō)

1. to be fond of strife, engage in eager rivalry, be contentious , φιλονεικῶν out of contentiousness or party spirit , (Thucydides); φ. πρός τινα (Lysias Orator):—;with accusative, φ. τὸ ἐμὲ εἶναι τὸν ἀποκρινόμενον to be eager that I should be the answerer, (Plato Philosophus); τὰ χείρω φ. to be so obstinate as to choose the worst, (Thucydides)
2. in good sense, to struggle emulously , φ. περὶ τῶν καλλίστων (Isocrates Orator) (ML)