v. Pa. t. contended; also 6–7 content. [ad. L. contend-ĕre (or its OF. repr. contend-re (12th c. and in Cotgr. 1611), f. con- + tendĕre to stretch, strain, strive: see TEND v.]
† 1. intr. To strive earnestly; to make vigorous efforts; to endeavor, to struggle. Obs.
1514. Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (Percy Soc.), 4. Eche one contendeth … With fote or with hande the bladder for to smyte.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 74. Whan it is perfyte it euer contendeth and laboureth to be loue.
1598. Bacon, Sacr. Medit., x. (Arb.), 123. There is no heresie which would contende more to spread and multiply.
1658–9. Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 42. I have contended to bring in honest men and … they have not proved as I expected.
1727. Swift, Gulliver, I. iii. Contending to excel themselves and their fellows.
c. 1820. S. Rogers, Italy, Meillerie, 55. Children … contend to use The cross-bow of their fathers.
2. To strive in opposition; to engage in conflict or strife; to fight. Const. with, against (an opponent), for, about (an object).
1529. More, Dyaloge, I. Wks. 125/1. If thei would wt wagers contende & striue therin.
1530. Palsgr., 496/1. I wyll never contende with my superyour nor stryve with my felowe.
1607. Shaks., Cor., IV. v. 119. In Ambitious strength, I did Contend against thy Valour.
1783–6. Watson, Philip III. (1839), 61. No army … could be able to contend alone with the English forces.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), IV. 36. A cause for which they are ready to contend to their life’s end.
b. transf. of the strife of natural forces, feelings, passions, etc.
1602. Shaks., Ham., IV. i. 7. Mad as the Seas, and winde, when both contend Which is the Mightier.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 359. Supernal Grace contending With sinfulness of Men.
1731. Pope, Ep. Burlington, 82. Strength of Shade contends with strength of Light.
1817. Mar. Edgeworth, Harrington, vii. Wks. XIII. 80. The impatient sticks in the pit … had begun to contend with the music in the orchestra.
1883. G. Lloyd, Ebb & Flow, I. 22. No other feelings to contend with it.
c. fig. of struggle with difficulties, feelings, etc.
1783. Crabbe, Village, I. p. 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., III. (1871), 145. It has been obliged to contend with the intemperate zeal and precipitation of its friends.
1877. Mrs. Oliphant, Makers Flor., v. (1877), 135. The greatest difficulty with which he had to contend after this was a strike of his workmen.
3. To strive in argument or debate; to dispute keenly; to argue. Const. with, against (a person), for, against, about (a matter).
1530. Barnes, Onely Fayth, in Wks. 1573, 228. Hée [Saint Paule] contendeth agaynst workes, & clearely excludeth workes in iustification, and bryngeth in grace onely.
1539. Bible (Great), Acts xi. 2. They that were of the circuncisyon contended agaynst [1611 contended with] him.
1671. J. Webster, Metallogr., i. 11. Chymistry, about which name we do not contend.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. i. 35. A determination against which the crown commissioners were unable to contend.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., 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 4.
The clause became at length the object of contend, which so construed might have a passive.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. John, 10 b. That person, therfore, is wicked … that contendeth him [Christ] to haue been create emonges other creatures.
1642. Jer. Taylor, Episc., xiv. (1647), 79. The madnesse and stupidity of Aerius contending a Bishop and a Presbyter to be all one.
1781. Cowper, Hope, 129. Men … Live to no sober purpose and contend, That their Creator had no serious end.
1791. Paine, Rights of Man (ed. 4), 76. As … I do not understand the merits of this case, I will not contend it with Mr. Burke.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), III. 137. It was contended on her part that the right to exercise the office belonged to Mr. Burrell.
1875. Jowett, Plato, I. 479. I stoutly contend that by beauty all beautiful things become beautiful.
4. To strive in rivalry with another, for an object; to compete, vie.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, I. xiv. (Arb.), 48. Cicero said Roscius contended with him by varietie of liuely gestures, to surmount the copie of his speach.
1598. Grenewey, Tacitus’ Ann., XIV. xii. 214. Whilest Volusius and Africanus contended [ed. 1622 content] for woorth and nobilitie.
1670. Cotton, Espernon, I. II. 84. The several Orders of the City contented … which should give the greatest testimony of joy for his Arrival.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, I. ii. Nature and fortune … seem to have contended which should enrich him most.
1862. Ruskin, Munera P. (1880), 89. The Sirens … contending for the possession of the imagination with the Muses.
b. fig. To vie with.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb. (1586), II. 66 b. The French … call it Passevelleurs … because it contendeth in colour with crimson in graine.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 210. In fame it contendeth with Tyrus, but exceedeth it in antiquitie.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 137. The Ræthean Grape divine, Which yet contends not with Falernian Wine!
† 5. trans. To contest, dispute (an object). Obs.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, VI. 874. Their airy limbs in sport they exercise, And on the green contend the wrestler’s prize. Ibid., X. 17. When Carthage shall contend the world with Rome.
¶ 6. To urge one’s course, proceed with effort.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., lx. Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore … Our minutes … In sequent toil all forwards do contend.
1615. Chapman, Odyss., XI. 208. I answer’d; That a necessary end To this infernal state made me contend.
