contendv.
/kənˈtɛnd/, U.S. /kənˈtɛnd/ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > endeavour > make an attempt or endeavour [verb (intransitive)] > strive or struggle
hiec888
to stand inc1175
wrag?c1225
wrestle?c1225
stretcha1375
strivec1384
pressc1390
hitc1400
wring1470
fend15..
battle1502
contend?1518
reluct1526
flichter1528
touse1542
struggle1597
to lay in1599
strain?1606
stickle1613
fork1681
sprattle1786
buffet1824
fight1859
the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > exert oneself or make an effort [verb (intransitive)] > make strenuous efforts > in face of difficulties
wring1470
warslea1500
contend?1518
agonize1570
wrestle1591
struggle1597
throe1615
pull1676
sprattle1786
?1518 A. Barclay Fyfte Eglog sig. Aiijv Eche one contendeth,..With fote or with hande the bladder for to smyte.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. AAiii Whan it is perfyte it euer contendeth and laboreth to be loue.
1598 F. Bacon Sacred Medit. in Essaies (new ed.) f. 24 There is no heresie which would contende more to spread and multiply.
1659 T. Burton Diary (1828) IV. 42 I have contended to bring in honest men and..they have not proved as I expected.
1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. i. iii. 50 Contending to excel themselves and their Fellows.
c1820 S. Rogers Meillerie in Italy 55 Children..contend to use The cross-bow of their fathers.
2.
a. To strive in opposition; to engage in conflict or strife; to fight. Const. with, against (an opponent), for, about (an object).
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > contention or strife > contend [verb (intransitive)]
winc888
fightc900
flitec900
wraxlec1000
wrestlea1200
cockc1225
conteckc1290
strivec1290
struta1300
topc1305
to have, hold, make, take strifec1374
stightlea1375
debatec1386
batea1400
strugglec1412
hurlc1440
ruffle1440
warc1460
warslea1500
pingle?a1513
contend1529
repugn1529
scruggle1530
sturtc1535
tuga1550
broilc1567
threap1572
yoke1581
bustle1585
bandy1594
tilt1595
combat1597
to go (also shake, try, wrestle) a fall1597
mutiny1597
militate1598
combatizec1600
scuffle1601
to run (or ride) a-tilt1608
wage1608
contesta1618
stickle1625
conflict1628
stickle1647
dispute1656
fence1665
contrast1672
scramble1696
to battle it1715
rug1832
grabble1835
buffet1839
tussle1862
pickeer1892
passage1895
tangle1928
1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes i, in Wks. 125/1 If thei would wt wagers contende & striue therin.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 496/1 I wyll never contende with my superyour nor stryve with my felowe.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iv. v. 114 In Ambitious strength, I did Contend against thy Valour. View more context for this quotation
a1781 R. Watson Hist. Reign Philip III (1783) i. 78 No army..could be able to contend alone with the English forces.
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) IV. 36 A cause for which they are ready to contend to their life's end.
b. transferred of the strife of natural forces, feelings, passions, etc.
ΚΠ
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iv. i. 6 Mad as the sea and wind when both contend Which is the mightier. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xi. 359 Supernal Grace contending With sinfulness of Men. View more context for this quotation
1731 A. Pope Epist. to Earl of Burlington 8 Strength of Shade contends with strength of Light.
1817 M. Edgeworth Harrington & Ormond I. vii. 144 The impatient sticks in the pit..had begun to contend with the music in the orchestra.
1883 ‘G. Lloyd’ Ebb & Flow I. i. 22 No other feelings to contend with it.
c. figurative of struggle with difficulties, feelings, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > endeavour > attempt [verb (transitive)] > strive or struggle against difficulties
deal1469
gripple1591
cope with1641
contend1783
strive1786
to grapple with1830
1783 G. Crabbe Village i. 11 There may you see the youth of slender frame Contend with weakness, weariness, and shame.
1821 J. Q. Adams in C. Davies Metr. Syst. (1871) iii. 145 It has..been obliged to contend with the intemperate zeal and precipitation of its friends.
1877 M. Oliphant Makers of Florence (ed. 2) v. 135 The greatest difficulty with which he had to contend after this was a strike of his workmen.
3.
a. To strive in argument or debate; to dispute keenly; to argue. Const. with, against (a person), for, against, about (a matter).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > controversy, dispute, argument > contend, dispute, argue [verb (intransitive)]
flitec900
witherc1000
disputea1225
pleadc1275
strive1320
arguec1374
tolyc1440
toilc1450
wrestlec1450
altercate1530
disagree1534
dissent1538
contend1539
controvert1563
wrangle?1570
contestate?1572
to fend and prove?1578
contest1603
vie1604
controverse1605
discept1639
ergot1653
digladiatea1656
misprove1662
spar1698
argufy1804
spat1809
to cross swords1816
argle1823
to bandy words1828
polemize1828
controversialize1841
caffle1851
polemicize1881
ergotize1883
argy-bargy1887
cag1919
snack1956
1539 Bible (Great) Acts xi. 2 They that were of the circuncisyon contended agaynst [1611 contended with] him.
a1540 R. Barnes in W. Tyndale et al. Wks. (1573) 228/1 Saint Paule..contendeth agaynst workes..and bringeth in grace onely.
1671 J. Webster Metallographia i. 11 Chymistry, about which name we do not contend.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. i. 35 A determination against which the crown commissioners were unable to contend.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps ii. xxii. 349 This plasticity [of ice] has been contended for by M. Agassiz.
b. with clause specifying the point maintained or asserted; cf. contention n. 4.The clause became at length the object of contend, which so construed might have a passive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > maintaining or upholding as true > maintain or uphold as true [verb (intransitive)]
to bear (a person or thing) in (also an, a, on) handc1300
contend1548
happen1705
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. John f. 10v That person, therfore, is wicked..that contendeth him [Christ] to haue been create emonges other creatures.
1642 Bp. J. Taylor Of Sacred Order Episcopacy (1647) xiv. 79 The madnesse and stupidity of Aerius contending a Bishop and a Presbyter to be all one.
1782 W. Cowper Hope in Poems 148 Men..Live to no sober purpose, and contend That their creator had no serious end.
1791 T. Paine Rights of Man i. 72 As..I do not understand the merits of this case, I will not contend it with Mr. Burke.
1804 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. III. 156 And contended, that..the right to exercise the office belonged to Mr. Burrell.
1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues I. 450 I stoutly contend that by beauty all beautiful things become beautiful.
4.
a. To strive in rivalry with another, for an object; to compete, vie.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > compete or rival [verb (intransitive)]
envyc1369
to try (also play, prove, etc.) masteriesa1393
strive?c1450
pingle?a1513
marrow1567
corrive1586
contend1589
tilt1589
to drop vie(s)1599
to prove conclusions1601
to try (a) conclusion1601
rival1608
wage1608
campa1614
vie1615
buzzle1638
side1641
rival1656
urge1691
compete1796
rivalize1800
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie i. xiv. 26 Cicero said Roscius contended with him by varietie of liuely gestures, to surmount the copie of his speach.
1598 R. Grenewey tr. Tacitus Annales xiv. xii. 214 Whilest Volusius and Africanus contended [1622 content] for woorth and nobilitie.
1670 C. Cotton tr. G. Girard Hist. Life Duke of Espernon i. ii. 84 The several Orders of the City contented..which should give the greatest testimony of joy for his Arrival.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones I. i. ii. 6 Nature and fortune..seem to have contended which should bless and enrich him most. View more context for this quotation
1862 J. Ruskin Munera Pulveris (1880) 89 The Sirens..contending for the possession of the imagination with the Muses.
b. figurative. To vie with.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > compete with [verb (transitive)]
couple1477
envy1509
contend1577
counterscore1577
paragona1586
corrive1586
emulate1586
emule1595
corrival1601
vie1602
rival1607
vie1607
contesta1616
antagonize1634
cope with1651
to break a lance with1862
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry ii. f. 65v The Frenchemen..call it Passeuelleurs..because it contendeth in colour with crimson in grayne.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 210 In fame it contendeth with Tyrus, but exceedeth it in antiquitie.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 75 The Ræthean Grape divine, Which yet contends not with Falernian Wine! View more context for this quotation
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > contention or strife > carry on (a contest, fight, etc.) [verb (transitive)] > contest (an object)
controvert1609
contend1697
struggle1769
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis vi, in tr. Virgil Wks. 388 Their Airy Limbs in Sports they exercise, And, on the Green, contend the Wrestler's Prize.
6. To urge one's course, proceed with effort.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > forward movement > move forward or advance [verb (intransitive)] > with persistence, effort, or urgency
shovec888
thringc893
thresta1225
wina1300
thrustc1330
pressa1375
throngc1440
wrestc1450
thrimp1513
to put forward1529
intrude1562
breast1581
shoulder1581
haggle1582
strivea1586
wrestle1591
to push on (also along)1602
elabour1606
contend1609
to put on?1611
struggle1686
worry1702
crush1755
squeege1783
battle1797
scrouge1798
sweat1856
flounder1861
pull?1863
tank1939
bulldozer1952
terrier1959
1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets lx. sig. E Like as the waues make towards the pibled shore..Our minuites..In sequent toile all forwards do contend . View more context for this quotation
?1615 G. Chapman tr. Homer Odysses (new ed.) xi. 208 I answer'd; That a necessary end To this infernal state made me contend.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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