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thout much fall of blood. Shak. The Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle. Deut. ii. 9. In ambitious strength I did Contend against thy valor. Shak.

n antagonist; a contestant. [Obs.] In all notable changes and revolutions the contendents have been still made a prey to the third party. L'Estrange.

One who contends; a contestant.

A female contestant. [R.]

A plea, by the defendant, in a criminal prosecution, which, without admitting guilt, subjects him to all the consequences of a plea of quilty.

One who contends for the prize in public games. [R.]

The contend in words; to dispute with zeal, heat, or anger; to wrangle.

A member of the Church of England who contends for its catholic character; more specifically, a High Churchman.

hing anomalous. We are enabled to unite into a consistent whole the various anomalies and contending principles that are found in the minds and affairs of men. Burke. As Professor Owen has remarked, there is no greater anomaly in nature than a bird that can not fly. Darwin.

One who contends with another, especially in combat; an adversary; an opponent. Antagonist of Heaven's Almigthy King. Milton. Our antagonists in these controversies. Hooker.

Opposing in combat, combating; contending or acting against; as, antagonistic forces. -- An*tag`o*nis"tic*al*ly, adv. They were distinct, adverse, even antagonistic. Milman.

To contend with; to oppose actively; to counteract.

To contend in argument; to dispute; to reason; -- followed by with; as, you may argue with your friend without convincing him.

One who contended for a prize in the public games of ancient Greece or Rome.

To join in battle; to contend in fight; as, to battle over theories. To meet in arms, and battle in the plain. Prior.

To contend in petulant altercation; to wrangle. Petty things about which men cark and bicker. Barrow.

To contend for; to canvass; to solicit. [Obs.] Bp. Hurd.

To enter upon some labor or contest; to join in close fight; to struggle; to contend. The bishop was as able and ready to buckle with the Lord Protector as he was with him. Latimer. In single combat thou shalt buckle with me. Shak. To buckle to, to bend to; to engage with zeal. To make our sturdy humor buckle thereto.…

To affect as with blows; to strike repeatedly; to strive with or contend against; as, to buffet the billows. The sudden hurricane in thunder roars, Buffets the bark, and whirls it from the shores. Broome. You are lucky fellows who can live in a dreamland of your own, instead of being buffeted about the world. W. Black.…

One who engages in any contest; esp. one who in ancient times contended in single combat in behalf of another's honor or rights; or one who acts or speaks in behalf of a person or a cause; a defender; an advocate; a hero. A stouter champion never handled sword. Shak. Champions of law and liberty. Fisher Ames.…