Emily Dickinson Lexicon

COM-PE-TI'TION, n. [Low L. competitio. See Compete and Competence.]

1. The act of seeking, or endeavoring to gain, what another is endeavoring to gain, at the same time; rivalry; mutual strife for the same object; also, strife for superiority; as, the competition of two candidates for an office, or of two poets for superior reputation.
2. A state of rivalship; a state of having equal claims. A portrait, with which one of Titian's could not come in competition. – Dryden.
3. Double claim; claim of more than one to the same thing; formerly with to, now with for. Competition to the crown there is none, nor can be. Bacon There is no competition but for the second place. Dryden.