Contend
/kənˈtɛnd/noun
To struggle against someone or something; to compete or assert something as true.
Did you know?Its deepest roots are tied to the idea of *stretching* or *extending* in Latin, which is why it evolved from physical strain into verbal combat and competition.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ten-
“to stretch”
Latin
Latin
contendere
“to stretch out, strain, exert oneself; later, to strive or compete”
Old French
OF
contendre
“to strive, dispute, fight”
Middle English
English
contenden
“to struggle, fight, contend”
Modern English
English
contend
“to struggle against; to compete or assert”