contend
//kənˈtɛnd//
Forms
- present (v1)
- contend
- past (v2)
- contended
- past participle (v3)
- contended
- present participle
- contending
- 3rd person singular
- contends
Definitions
1.To be in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.
- For never two such kingdoms did contend without much fall of blood.
- The Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle.
2.To struggle or exert oneself to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.
3.To be in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.
4.To believe (something is reasonable) and argue (for it); to advocate.
- In this paper the author contends that no useful results can be obtained if this method is used.
- His critics contend the eight years [term limit] expired Tuesday, the day before the anniversary of Prayuth officially becoming prime minister in the military government installed after the coup.
Frequency
Overall
Rare· #4489
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Rare
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
From Middle English contenden, borrowed from Old French contendre
From Latin contendere (“to stretch out, extend, strive after, contend”)
From com- (“together”) + tendere (“to stretch”); see tend, and compare attend, extend, intend, subtend.