contend
/kənˈtɛnd/ verb C1- 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. · 17th century, John Dryden, Epistle III to the Lady Castlemain You sit above, and see vain men below / Contend for what you only can bestow.
- To be in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.
- To believe (something is reasonable) and argue (for it); to advocate. · In this paper the author contends that no useful results can be obtained if this method is used.
- To try to cope with a difficulty or problem.
He/she/it contends · Past contended · Past participle contended · -ing form contending
Verb forms
- Base form
- contend
- He/she/it
- contends
- Past
- contended
- Past participle
- contended
- -ing form
- contending
From the library
“I would swear to it; what I heard of his symptoms agrees too well with what I have seen in the other cases.” Villefort ceased to contend; he only groaned.
It fell among some Reeds, which it thus addressed: “I wonder how you, who are so light and weak, are not entirely crushed by these strong winds.” They replied, “You fight and contend with the wind, and consequently you are destroyed; while we on the contrary bend before the least breath of air, and therefore remain unbroken, and escape.”
A Dolphin saw the Monkey contending with the waves, and supposing him to be a man (whom he is always said to befriend), came and placed himself under him, to convey him on his back in safety to the shore.
He was a fine, tall, slim young fellow of eighteen or twenty, with black eyes, and hair as dark as a raven’s wing; and his whole appearance bespoke that calmness and resolution peculiar to men accustomed from their cradle to contend with danger.
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