Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON-TEND', v.i. [L. contendo; con and tendo, to stretch, from teneo; Gr. τεινω. See Tend, Tenet.]

1. To strive, or to strive against; to struggle in opposition. Distress not the Moabites; nor contend with them in battle. – Deut ii.
2. To strive; to use earnest efforts to obtain, or to defend and preserve. You sit above, and see vain men below / Contend for what you only can bestow. – Dryden. Ye should earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. – Jude 3.
3. To dispute earnestly; to strive in debate. They that were of the circumcision contended with him. – Acts xi. Job ix.
4. To reprove sharply; to chide; to strive to convince and reclaim. Then contended I with the rulers. – Neh. xiii.
5. To strive in opposition; to punish. The Lord God called to contend by fire. – Amos vii.
6. To quarrel; to dispute fiercely; to wrangle. The parties contend about trifles. To contend for, to strive to obtain; as, two competitors contend for the prize.