| 释义 |
contend, v.|kənˈtɛnd|
Pa. tense contended; also 6–7 content.
[ad. L. contend-ĕre (or its OF. repr. contend-re (12th c. and in Cotgr. 1611), f. con- + tendĕre to stretch, strain, strive: see tend v.]
†1. intr. To strive earnestly; to make vigorous efforts; to endeavour, to struggle. Obs.
1514Barclay Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (Percy Soc.) 4 Eche one contendeth..With fote or with hande the bladder for to smyte. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 74 Whan it is perfyte it euer contendeth and laboureth to be loue. 1598Bacon Sacr. Medit. x. (Arb.) 123 There is no heresie which would contende more to spread and multiply. 1658–9Burton's Diary (1828) IV. 42, I have contended to bring in honest men and..they have not proved as I expected. 1727Swift Gulliver i. iii, Contending to excel themselves and their fellows. c1820S. Rogers Italy, Meillerie 55 Children..contend to use The cross-bow of their fathers.
2. To strive in opposition; to engage in conflict or strife; to fight. Const. with, against (an opponent), for, about (an object).
1529More Dyaloge i. Wks. 125/1 If thei would wt wagers contende & striue therin. 1530Palsgr. 496/1, I wyll never contende with my superyour nor stryve with my felowe. 1607Shakes. Cor. iv. v. 119 In Ambitious strength, I did Contend against thy Valour. 1783–6Watson Philip III (1839) 61 No army..could be able to contend alone with the English forces. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 36 A cause for which they are ready to contend to their life's end.
b. transf. of the strife of natural forces, feelings, passions, etc.
1602Shakes. Ham. iv. i. 7 Mad as the Seas, and winde, when both contend Which is the Mightier. 1667Milton P.L. xi. 359 Supernal Grace contending With sinfulness of Men. 1731Pope Ep. Burlington 82 Strength of Shade contends with strength of Light. 1817M. Edgeworth Harrington vii. Wks. XIII. 80 The impatient sticks in the pit..had begun to contend with the music in the orchestra. 1883G. Lloyd Ebb & Flow I. 22 No other feelings to contend with it.
c. fig. of struggle with difficulties, feelings, etc.
1783Crabbe Village i. p. 11 There may you see the youth of slender frame Contend with weakness, weariness and shame. 1821J. Q. Adams in C. Davies Metr. Syst. iii. (1871) 145 It has..been obliged to contend with the intemperate zeal and precipitation of its friends. 1877Mrs. Oliphant Makers Flor. v. (1877) 135 The greatest difficulty with which he had to contend after this was a strike of his workmen.
3. To strive in argument or debate; to dispute keenly; to argue. Const. with, against (a person), for, against, about (a matter).
1530Barnes Fayth onely, Saint Paule..contendeth agaynst workes..and bringeth in grace onely. 1539Bible (Great) Acts xi. 2 They that were of the circuncisyon contended agaynst [1611 contended with] him. 1671J. Webster Metallogr. i. 11 Chymistry, about which name we do not contend. 1856Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. i. 35 A determination against which the crown commissioners were unable to contend. 1860Tyndall Glac. ii. xxii. 349 This plasticity [of ice] has been contended for by M. Agassiz.
b. with clause specifying the point maintained or asserted; cf. contention 4.
The clause became at length the object of contend, which so construed might have a passive.
1548Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. John 10 b, That person, therfore, is wicked..that contendeth him [Christ] to haue been create emonges other creatures. 1642Jer. Taylor Episc. xiv. (1647) 79 The madnesse and stupidity of Aerius contending a Bishop and a Presbyter to be all one. 1781Cowper Hope 129 Men..Live to no sober purpose and contend, That their Creator had no serious end. 1791Paine Rights of Man (ed. 4) 76 As..I do not understand the merits of this case, I will not contend it with Mr. Burke. 1818Cruise Digest (ed. 2) III. 137 It was contended on her part that..the right to exercise the office belonged to Mr. Burrell. 1875Jowett Plato I. 479, I stoutly contend that by beauty all beautiful things become beautiful.
4. To strive in rivalry with another, for an object; to compete, vie.
1589Puttenham Eng. Poesie i. xiv. (Arb.) 48 Cicero said Roscius contended with him by varietie of liuely gestures, to surmount the copie of his speach. 1598R. Grenewey Tacitus' Ann. xiv. xii. 214 Whilest Volusius and Africanus contended [ed. 1622 content] for woorth and nobilitie. 1670Cotton Espernon i. ii. 84 The several Orders of the City contented..which should give the greatest testimony of joy for his Arrival. 1749Fielding Tom Jones i. ii, Nature and fortune..seem to have contended which should enrich him most. 1862Ruskin Munera P. (1880) 89 The Sirens..contending for the possession of the imagination with the Muses.
b. fig. To vie with.
1577B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. (1586) ii. 66 b, The French..call it Passevelleurs.. because it contendeth in colour with crimson in graine. 1615G. Sandys Trav. 210 In fame it contendeth with Tyrus, but exceedeth it in antiquitie. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. ii. 137 The Ræthean Grape divine, Which yet contends not with Falernian Wine!
†5. trans. To contest, dispute (an object). Obs.
1697Dryden æneid vi. 874 Their airy limbs in sport they exercise, And on the green contend the wrestler's prize. Ibid. x. 17 When Carthage shall contend the world with Rome.
¶6. To urge one's course, proceed with effort.
c1600Shakes. Sonn. lx, Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore..Our minutes..In sequent toil all forwards do contend. 1615Chapman Odyss. xi. 208, I answer'd; That a necessary end To this infernal state made me contend. |