contend

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to maintain or assert

   The professor contended that Communism had no future.

2. 2
   verb

   to have an argument about something

   My friend and I contended over the dirty dishes.

3. 3
   verb

   To be in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.

   The Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle.

4. 4
   verb

   To struggle or exert oneself to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.

   17th century, John Dryden, Epistle III to the Lady Castlemain You sit above, and see vain men below / Contend for what you only can bestow.

5. 5
   verb

   To be in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.

   these simple ideas are far from those innate principles which some contend for

6. 6
   verb

   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.

7. 7
   verb

   To try to cope with a difficulty or problem.

   However, the challenges for the railway world are much greater than for automotive as we generally have more occupants, higher speeds, greater masses, higher energies, and an absence of seatbelts or airbags to contend with.

8. 8
   verb

   to compete for something

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.