1. To strive in opposition or against difficulties; struggle: armies contending for control of strategic territory; had to contend with long lines at the airport.2. To compete, as in a race; vie. 3. To strive in controversy or debate; dispute. See synonyms at discuss.
TRANSITIVE VERB:
To maintain or assert: The defense contended that the evidence was inadmissible.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English contenden, from Latin contendere : com-, com- + tendere, to stretch, strive; see ten- in Appendix I.
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