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contendo

Etymology and origin of the Latin word contendo

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (tendō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kɔnˈtɛn.doː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈtɛn.do][1]

Forms

contendō (present infinitive contendere, perfect active contendī, supine contentum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from con- and tendō “to stretch”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of comparing.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to draw tight, stretch, bend a bow, and to hurl, as in Virgil, and in Plautus to compare one thing with another.[2] In Cicero it meant to strain one's powers, to strive, to hasten, to maintain, assert, to demand earnestly, and to compete, contend.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to strive, strain, assert, maintain, contend.[5] It survives in Italian contendere and Old French contendre, and gave English contend in the mid-15th century, “to compete”.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of comparing.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of striving and contending.[2][4]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of bending a bow.[2][4]
  • mid-15th century – English contend is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To stretch; to bend (a bow); to hurl.[2]
  2. To strain; to strive.[2]
  3. To hasten.[2]
  4. To assert, maintain.[2]
  5. To demand earnestly.[2]
  6. To compete, contend.[2]
  7. To compare.[2]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Contendo.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/contendo. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·