[con.tend] vb [ME, fr. MF or L; MF contendre, fr. L contendere, fr. com- + tendere to stretch--more at thin] vi (15c) 1: to strive or vie in contest or rivalry or against difficulties: struggle
2: to strive in debate: argue ~ vt 1: maintain, assert "~ed that he was right"
2: to struggle for: contest