Also 6–7 -tour. [a. F. compétiteur (16th c. in Littré), or its source L. competītor, one of several who aim at the same object, a fellow-candidate, rival, agent-sb. f. competĕre in its active sense: see COMPETE v.2 The accentuation indicates adoption from F. rather than L., which would naturally have given competi·tor, co·mpetitor.]
1. One who competes, or engages in a competition; one who seeks an object in rivalry with others also seeking it; a rival. Const. with († of) another; for († of, to) an object; in a sphere or match.
1534. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), R ij b. The noble Amilcares of Carthage, competitours of the Scipions of Rome.
1588. Allen, Admon., 20. In suche a number of competitors of the croune.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., II. i. 77. They … cannot brooke Competitors in loue.
1597. Bacon, Coulers, i. in Ess. (Arb.), 139. Diuers competitors to a place.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (J.). His brother Mechemetes, competitor of the kingdom.
1691. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), II. 301. Several persons are competitors for the lord lieutenancy.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 270, ¶ 1. To be no Man’s Rival in Love, or Competitor in Business.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 335. To give judgment on the competitors.
1876. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk., I. II. i. 246. Noblemen … were competitors with him in the same race of political honours.
b. One placed in competition.
1656. S. Winter, Serm., 128. They exalted works above Christ, or at least made them competitors with Christ.
1858. Gladstone, Homer, I. 13. [Homer has] a supremacy among poets, without real competitors or partners, except Dante and Shakspeare.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xi. 81. As far as the eye could range Mont Blanc had no competitor.
† 2. One associated with another in seeking the same common object; an associate, a partner. Obs.
1579. Fenton, Guicciard., I. (1599), 3. The league … was … renewed in the yeare 1480 for xxv yeares, being competitors and parties therein almost all the meaner Potentates of Italy.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., II. vi. 35. My selfe in counsaile his competitor. Ibid. (1594), Rich. III., IV. iv. 506. In Kent, my Liege, the Guilfords are in Armes, And euery houre more Competitors Flocke to the Rebels.
1624. Heywood, Gunaik., V. 230. By the helpe of Theodotus, (whom she made competitor in the Empire).
1681. E. Murphy, State Ireland, § 42. He would not be competitor in their Robberies.
† 3. = COMPETENT sb. Obs.
1697. trans. Dupin’s Hist. Eccl. Writers, II. 109. They gave the Name of Competitors to those who were in a Condition to receive Baptism.
