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contend

 - 3 dictionary results

con⋅tend

  [kuhn-tend]
–verb (used without object)
1. to struggle in opposition: to contend with the enemy for control of the port.
2. to strive in rivalry; compete; vie: to contend for first prize.
3. to strive in debate; dispute earnestly: to contend against falsehood.
–verb (used with object)
4. to assert or maintain earnestly: He contended that taxes were too high.
Use contend in a Sentence
Origin:
1400–50; late ME contenden < AF contendre < L contendere to compete, strive, draw tight, equiv. to con- con- + tendere to stretch; see tend 1

Related forms:
con⋅tend⋅er, noun
con⋅tend⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. wrestle, grapple, battle, fight. 2. See compete. 3. argue, wrangle. 4. hold, claim.

Antonyms:
3. agree.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To contend
con·tend   (kən-těnd')   
v.   con·tend·ed, con·tend·ing, con·tends

v.   intr.

  1. To strive in opposition or against difficulties; struggle: armies contending for control of strategic territory; had to contend with long lines at the airport.

  2. To compete, as in a race; vie.

  3. To strive in controversy or debate; dispute. See Synonyms at discuss.

v.   tr.
To maintain or assert: The defense contended that the evidence was inadmissible.

[Middle English contenden, from Latin contendere : com-, com- + tendere, to stretch, strive; see ten- in Indo-European roots.]
con·tend'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

contend 
1440, from L. contendere "to stretch out, strive after," from com- intensive prefix + tendere "to stretch" (see tenet).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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