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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary con·tend ETYMOLOGY Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French contendre, from Latin contendere, from com- + tendere to stretch — more at thin DATE 15th century intransitive verb 1. to strive or vie in contest or rivalry or against difficulties : struggle 2. to strive in debate : argue transitive verb 1. maintain , assert contended that he was right 2. to struggle for : contest English Etymology contend mid-15c., from L. contendere "to stretch out, strive after," from com- intensive prefix + tendere "to stretch" (see tenet). Related: Contended (pp. adj., c.1700); contender (1540s); contending(1590s). Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 contend con·tend / kEn5tend / verb1. (formal) to say that sth is true, especially in an argument (尤指在争论中)声称,主张,认为 SYN maintain :
▪ [V that] I would contend that the minister's thinking is flawed on this point. 我倒认为部长的想法在这一点上有漏洞。 ▪ [also VN that] 2. [V] ~ (for sth) to compete against sb in order to gain sth 竞争；争夺: Three armed groups were contending for power. 三个武装集团在争夺权力。 PHRASAL VERBS ▪ con'tend with sth to have to deal with a problem or difficult situation (不得不)处理问题,对付困境: Nurses often have to contend with violent or drunken patients. 护士经常不得不对付粗暴的或喝醉酒的病人。 Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus-11th Edition v. Function: verb 1 to strive in opposition to someone or something FF1C;contending against the temptation to look behind himFF1E; Synonyms: battle, fight, oppugn, tug, war Related Words: combat, oppose, resist, withstand; contest, cope (with), vie 2 Synonyms: MAINTAIN 2, argue, assert, claim, defend, justify, vindicate, warrant Related Words: report, say, tell; charge, enjoin, urge; dictate, prescribe 3 Synonyms: COMPETE 1, contest, rival, vie Related Words: combat, oppose, resist, withstand; confront, encounter, face, meet, stand Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged con·tend \kənˈtend\ verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French contendre, from Latin contendere to stretch vigorously, to strive, contend, from com- + tendere to stretch — more at tend intransitive verb 1. : to strive or vie especially with determination and exertion in contest or rivalry or against difficulties, exigencies, or failings < the Manichean theory of a good and an evil spirit contending on nearly equal terms — W.R.Inge > < the African Queen might soon be contending with difficulties of refueling — C.S.Forester > 2. : to strive in debate : engage in discussion : argue < stubbornly contended for what he believed to be the truth — H.E.Starr > transitive verb 1. : maintain , assert , argue < contending that literature must serve a moral function — C.I.Glicksberg > 2. : to struggle for : contest < she contended every point, objected to every request — Margaret Mead > Synonyms: cope , fight , battle , war : contend is a general term indicating endeavoring or striving to vanquish an opponent or to overcome difficulties or adversities < the lusty wrestlers shall contend — William Wordsworth > < ladies contended for the honor of being taken down to dinner by the brilliant French journalist — W.C.Brownell > < since they had left the Espanola country behind them, they had contended first with wind and sandstorms, and now with cold — Willa Cather > cope may imply contending with an adversary on even or better than even terms and defeating or parrying his efforts, or facing adversity, difficulty, exigency and finding expedients < a boy of barely sixteen cannot stand against the moral pressure of a father and mother who have always oppressed him any more than he can cope physically with a powerful full-grown man — Samuel Butler †1902 > < the National Government had to cope with … provincial separatism — Owen & Eleanor Lattimore > < the inadequate medical staff, without drugs, could not cope with the situation — W.B.Hesseltine > fight is likely to involve notions of more strenuous activity or even violence than contend or cope; it suggests constant vigorous effort < while Spaniards fought back with gun and Gospel to retain control of territories painfully won — R.A.Billington > < the advocates of the old classical education have been gallantly fighting a losing battle for over half a century — W.R.Inge > < he had fought like a demon every inch of the way against poverty and discouragement — A.W.Long > battle and war are more figurative; the first suggests contending as under battle conditions, with fierce fighting, resolute attack and defense, and changing fortunes < grimy rescue teams working in shifts battled gas and smoke tonight attempting to reach an estimated sixty men still entombed by a Christmastide mine explosion — New York Times > < thou wouldst have nobly stirred thyself and battled for the right — William Wordsworth > the second suggests sustained struggle as under war conditions < to war against my people and my knights — Alfred Tennyson > < spent his life warring against war, and disease, and poverty — V.L.Parrington > < housewife that is forever warring with the dust — Edith Sitwell > Synonym: see in addition compete . |
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