contend

Meaning

Verb

• To be in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.
• To struggle or exert oneself to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.
• To be in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.
• To believe (something is reasonable) and argue (for it); to advocate.

Related

Similar words

• fight, combat, vie, oppose
• struggle, strive, emulate
• contest, litigate, dispute, debate
• assert, aver

Origin

• From Middle English contenden, borrowed from Old French contendre, from Latin contendere ("to stretch out, extend, strive after, contend"), from com- + tendere; see tend, and compare attend, extend, intend, subtend.