[ad. L. competītiōn-em agreement, a judicial demand, rivalry, n. of action f. competĕre: see COMPETE.]
1. ‘The action of endeavouring to gain what another endeavours to gain at the same time’ (J.); the striving of two or more for the same object; rivalry. Now largely used in connection with competitive examinations.
a. 1608. Sir F. Vere, Comm., 26. Though there were grudging there could be no competition.
1671. Milton, Samson, 476. God … will not long defer To vindicate the glory of his name Against all competition.
1697. Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., I. (1709), 150. Where there is so much of … Competition, and Uncertainty, you must expect Self-interest will govern.
1859. Mill, Liberty, iii. (1865), 43/1. Opening all objects of ambition, even the highest, to general competition.
1868. M. Pattison, Academ. Org., 65. It is useless for real genius to enter the lists of competition without this training.
Mod. The place will be filled by open competition. These scholarships are now thrown open to general competition.
b. Commerce. Rivalry in the market, striving for custom between those who have the same commodities to dispose of.
1793. Bentham, Emanc. Colonies, Wks. 1843, IV. 412. From high profits in trade comes influx of traders—from influx of traders, competition among traders—from competition among traders, reduction of prices.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Each & All, iii. 39. Competition is more likely than co-operation to induce prudence and foresight.
1871. Ruskin, Munera P., Pref. (1880), 13. Vulgar political economy asserts … that wages are determined by competition.
1884. Pall Mall G., 26 Feb., 12/1. The war of commerce which, under the name of ‘competition,’ goes on unceasingly.
Mod. Maxim. Competition is the life of trade.
c. In Sc. Law applied chiefly to those contests that arise on bankruptcy, between creditors claiming in virtue of their respective securities or diligences.
d. Const. for; formerly also † to.
1624. Williams, in Fortescue Papers, 204. In the competicion for soe unworthy and meane a remote northerne Deanerye.
a. 1626. Bacon, Advice to Villiers, Wks. 1872, XIII. 46. Competition of the crown there is none, nor can be: therefore it must be a fire within the bowels, or nothing.
1676. Dryden, State Innoc. (1684), Ep. Ded. The Prize Beauty was disputed only till You were seen; but now all Pretenders have withdrawn their Claims. There is no Competition but for the second place.
Mod. The competition for the appointment will no doubt be severe.
e. In, into competition.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. viii. § 4. The Priest-hood, which ever hath been in some competition with Empire.
a. 1631. Donne, in Selections (1840), 200. Bring the honours of this world into the balance, into competition, into comparison with that eternal weight of glory in heauen.
1660. R. Coke, Just. Vind., Ep. Ded. 5. No man presumes to stand in competition with you.
1728. Morgan, Algiers, I. iii. 70. They are a very small inconsiderable Tribe, in competition with those I treat of.
1786. Mrs. Inchbald, I’ll tell you what, II. ii. You wou’d not, even in idea, put him in competition with me.
1841. Myers, Cath. Th., III. § 28. 104. The highest claims of the older Law are not to be put into competition with that Dispensation.
2. (with a. and pl.) A contest for the acquisition of something; a match to determine relative excellence; a trial of ability in order to decide the superiority or comparative fitness of a number of candidates.
1618. Sir H. Carey, in Fortescue Papers, 56. Manifould desires and competitions to succeed him.
1632. Massinger, Maid of Honour, I. ii. Of such a competition, you alone Should wear the garland.
1781. Cowper, Conversation, 161. Few competitions but engender spite, And those the most, where neither has a right.
Mod. For the next lot put up [to auction] there was a keen competition. When does the rifle competition come off?
3. attrib. and Comb., as competition price, rent, scholarship, one decided by competition; competition-wallah [Urdū -wālā = L. -ārius, Eng. -er], an Anglo-Ind. colloq. term = COMPETITIONER; applied to members of the Indian Civil Service admitted on the competitive system, when first introduced in 1856.
1863. All Year Round, X. 203 (heading), Competition Wallahs.
1864. Trevelyan (title), Letters of a Competition-wallah. Ibid., 9. The stories against the competition-wallahs, which are told and fondly believed by the Haileybury men.
1875. Maine, Hist. Inst., vi. 175. Though the Irish expression translated ‘rack-rent’ cannot … denote an extreme competition rent.
1878. Sat. Rev., XLV. 15 June, 750/1. The Competition Wallah, at home on leave or retirement, dins perpetually into our ears the greatness of India, the vastness of its population, the enormous size of its mountains, its rivers, and its very deserts.
1886. Pall Mall G., 28 Oct., 6/2. In an architect’s office … competition sets of plans. Ibid. (1887), 14 Oct., 2/1. Legislation on the principle of the competition-curbing Acts.
