The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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.
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            For never two such kingdoms did contend
            Without much fall of blood.           --Shak.
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            The Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites,
            neither contend with them in battle.  --Deut. ii. 9.
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            In ambitious strength I did
            Contend against thy valor.            --Shak.
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   2. To struggle or exert one's self to obtain or retain
      possession of, or to defend.
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            You sit above, and see vain men below
            Contend for what you only can bestow. --Dryden.
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   3. To strive in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute;
      to argue.
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            The question which our author would contend for.
                                                  --Locke.
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            Many things he fiercely contended about were
            trivial.                              --Dr. H. More.

   Syn: To struggle; fight; combat; vie; strive; oppose;
        emulate; contest; litigate; dispute; debate.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Contend \Con*tend"\, v. t.
   To struggle for; to contest. [R.]
   [1913 Webster]

         Carthage shall contend the world with Rome.Dryden.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

contend
    v 1: maintain or assert; "He contended that Communism had no
         future" [syn: contend, postulate]
    2: have an argument about something [syn: argue, contend,
       debate, fence]
    3: to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation;
       "They contested the outcome of the race" [syn: contest,
       contend, repugn]
    4: come to terms 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, contend,
       grapple, deal, manage]
    5: compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself
       against others [syn: compete, vie, contend]
    6: be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight; "the tribesmen
       fought each other"; "Siblings are always fighting"; "Militant
       groups are contending for control of the country" [syn:
       contend, fight, struggle]