Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “contend” come from?

Contend comes from Middle English contenden, from Old French contendre, from Latin contendere, derived from the prefix cum meaning "with" combined with a root meaning "to stretch or strive."

contend (English): To strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute;...

Definitions

  1. To strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute;...

Ancestry of “contend”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcontenden—
2Old Frenchcontendre—
3Latincontenderethird-person plural perfect active indicative of...
4Latincom-allomorph of con-
5Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
6Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
7Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
8Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
11Middle Englishkyt—
12Germankitt—
13Old High Germankuti—
14Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
15Proto-Germanickweduzresin
16Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
17Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “contend”

  • contending
  • contender
  • contendeth
  • contendest
  • uncontending
  • noncontender
  • noncontending
  • contendingly
  • contendress
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →