## Meanings
1. To state firmly that something is true, especially in an argument.
2. To compete with others in order to win something.
3. To deal with a difficult problem or situation.

## Examples
- The professor contended that communism had no future.
- Three teams are contending for the championship this season.
- Drivers had to contend with heavy snow on the mountain roads.

## Derived Forms
- contendingly
- noncontending
- uncontended
- uncontending

## Related Forms
- contender
- contention
- contentious

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *tend-
- Root: contenden
- Root: contendre
- Root: contendere

## 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.

## AI Etymology
Contend comes 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. The historical chain includes *tend- (Proto-Indo-European), contenden (Middle English), contendre (Old French), and contendere (Latin). The surrounding word family includes derived forms such as contendingly, noncontending, uncontended, and uncontending and related forms such as contender, contention, and contentious. In present use it covers to state firmly that something is true, especially in an argument, to compete with others in order to win something, and to deal with a difficult problem or situation.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Sports & Fitness

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