From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Contend \Con*tend"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Contended; p. pr. &
vb. n. Contending.] [OF. contendre, L. contendere, -tentum;
con- + tendere to strech. See Tend.]
1. To strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie;
to quarrel; to fight.
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For never two such kingdoms did contend
Without much fall of blood. --Shak.
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The Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites,
neither contend with them in battle. --Deut. ii. 9.
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In ambitious strength I did
Contend against thy valor. --Shak.
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2. To struggle or exert one's self to obtain or retain
possession of, or to defend.
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You sit above, and see vain men below
Contend for what you only can bestow. --Dryden.
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3. To strive in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute;
to argue.
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The question which our author would contend for.
--Locke.
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Many things he fiercely contended about were
trivial. --Dr. H. More.
Syn: To struggle; fight; combat; vie; strive; oppose;
emulate; contest; litigate; dispute; debate.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Contend \Con*tend"\, v. t.
To struggle for; to contest. [R.]
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Carthage shall contend the world with Rome.Dryden.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
contend
v 1: maintain or assert; "He contended that Communism had no
future" [syn: contend, postulate]
2: have an argument about something [syn: argue, contend,
debate, fence]
3: to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation;
"They contested the outcome of the race" [syn: contest,
contend, repugn]
4: come to terms with; "We got by on just a gallon of gas";
"They made do on half a loaf of bread every day" [syn:
cope, get by, make out, make do, contend,
grapple, deal, manage]
5: compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself
against others [syn: compete, vie, contend]
6: be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight; "the tribesmen
fought each other"; "Siblings are always fighting"; "Militant
groups are contending for control of the country" [syn:
contend, fight, struggle]