[f. prec. sb. + -ER.] One who takes part in a competition; a competitor; one who enters a service, etc., by competition.
a. 1640. Jackson, Creed, X. v. Wks. IX. 564. Cornelius his competitioner for the bishoprick of Rome.
a. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon. (1642), 455. This Enoch hath not as yet tasted of death, being a competitioner of eternitie.
1864. Times, 7 Nov., 6/5. A good deal of reactionary agitation has been going on … against the new class of competitioners.
1885. Sat. Rev., LIX. 28 March, 416/2. The husband of the author, one of the first batch of the competitioners, did much useful service. Ibid. (1886), LXII. 28 Aug., 300/1. In Mr. Forrest’s pages these important personages become Rav, to the possible perplexity of students, examiners, and competitioners.
