Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Contend \Con*tend"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Contended}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Contending}.] [OF. contendre, L. contendere, -tentum;
   con- + tendere to strech. See {Tend}.]
   1. To strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie;
      to quarrel; to fight.

            For never two such kingdoms did contend Without much
            fall of blood.                        --Shak.

            The Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites,
            neither contend with them in battle.  --Deut. ii. 9.

            In ambitious strength I did Contend against thy
            valor.                                --Shak.

   2. To struggle or exert one's self to obtain or retain
      possession of, or to defend.

            You sit above, and see vain men below Contend for
            what you only can bestow.             --Dryden.

   3. To strive in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute;
      to argue.

            The question which our author would contend for.
                                                  --Locke.

            Many things he fiercely contended about were
            trivial.                              --Dr. H. More.

   Syn: To struggle; fight; combat; vie; strive; oppose;
        emulate; contest; litigate; dispute; debate.

Contend \Con*tend"\, v. t.
   To struggle for; to contest. [R.]

         Carthage shall contend the world with Rome.Dryden.

Source : WordNet®

contend
     v 1: maintain or assert; "He contended that Communism had no
          future" [syn: {postulate}]
     2: have an argument about something [syn: {argue}, {debate}, {fence}]
     3: to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation;
        "They contested the outcome of the race" [syn: {contest},
        {repugn}]
     4: compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself
        against others [syn: {compete}, {vie}]
     5: come to terms or deal successfully with; "We got by on just
        a gallon of gas"; "They made do on half a loaf of bread
        every day" [syn: {cope}, {get by}, {make out}, {make do},
        {grapple}, {deal}, {manage}]