contest English · revision 4747

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1579|origins=la contestari}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: noun: UK /ˈkɒn.test/, US /ˈkɑːn.test/; verb: /kənˈtest/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|contester|t=to dispute, oppose]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|contestārī|t=to call to witness]], especially contestārī lītem “to introduce a lawsuit by calling witnesses, bring an action”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from con- “together” and testārī “to bear witness”, from testis “witness”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The idea is that calling witnesses was the first step in a legal combat.^(Etymonline) The noun is from the verb, perhaps influenced by French conteste.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) It is related to [[testament]], [[testify]] and [[protest]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The early English senses followed the Latin: to swear to a fact (1579) and to bear witness to, attest (1591), both now obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) Barnhart notes a Middle English past participle in the phrase “the strif lawfully contestat”, having brought suit (before 1475), which may be the start of the English verb.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To dispute or debate is from 1603,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) and to fight or strive to win or hold something from about 1600.^(Etymonline) Entering into competition for something is from the 1610s,^(Etymonline) and calling into question, as in ''contest a will'', from the 1660s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The noun, strife in argument, is from 1643,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) and a struggle for victory, or a friendly competition for a prize, from 1647.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1579 – to swear to.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1603 – to dispute, debate.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1610s – to compete for.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1643 – noun, controversy.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1647 – noun, a competition or struggle.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1660s – to call into question.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[competition]] in which people try to win, especially one judged by others.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A struggle for power or control: ''a leadership contest''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To argue against or [[challenge]] formally: ''contest a will''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To compete or fight for: ''contest an election''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[contestable]]

+ * [[contester]]

+ * [[contestableness]]

+ * [[contestably]]

+ * [[contestingly]]

+ * [[contestation]]

+ * [[recontest]]

+ * [[no contest]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[testament]]

+ * [[testify]]

+ * [[protest]]

+ * [[contestant]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}