compete English · revision 5585

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1620|origins=la petere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kəmˈpiːt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|compéter|t=to be in rivalry with]] or directly [[bor|la-lat|competere|t=to strive together]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) in classical Latin “to meet, coincide, be suitable”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|com-|t=together]] and [[m|la|petere|t=to seek, aim at]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) from [[ine-pro|*pet-|t=to rush, fly]].^(Etymonline) Latin petere is also the source of [[competent]], [[petition]], [[impetus]] and [[repeat]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To be in rivalry with, to vie: 1620.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was rare in the 17th century and revived in the late 18th, from 1795 in the sense “to strive with others for something”.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) Striving for a market, in commerce, is from the 1840s, before 1844 in the OED;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Barnhart suggests it may be a back-formation from ''competition'', used in this sense from 1793.^(Barnhart 1988) Taking part in a sports contest became common late in the 19th century.^(Barnhart 1988) An earlier, unrelated verb compete, “to be suitable”, is recorded from 1541.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1620 – to vie.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1795 – to strive with others.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1840s – in commerce.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 19th century – in sport.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To try to be more successful than others, or to win something that others also want.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To take part in a [[contest]] or race.^(Collins 2023)

+ # To be as good as others: ''our prices can't compete''.^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[competer]]

+ * [[competingly]]

+ * [[outcompete]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[competition]]

+ * [[competitor]]

+ * [[competent]]

+ * [[competitive]]

+ * [[petition]]

+ * [[appetite]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}