跟對手拉：爭奪
繩子另一端是對手，中間那樣東西沒辦法分。
verb · B2
To compete hard against other people or groups for something that only one side can end up with, such as a prize, a job, a place, or power.
競爭；爭奪
核心畫面
One way to hold this word: a rope pulled tight, with you at one end and something at the other. You are using real effort, and the effort is aimed at whatever is pulling back. Change what holds the far end and you get all three uses. A rival holds it, and you are competing. A different opinion holds it, and you are arguing your case. A problem holds it — rain, noise, one more broken thing — and you are coping. The strain stays the same in every one; only the thing at the other end changes.
可以想成一條被拉緊的繩子，你在這一端，另一端有東西在拉。你確實在出力，而這股力氣是朝著拉你的那一方去的。換掉另一端的…更多收起
可以想成一條被拉緊的繩子，你在這一端，另一端有東西在拉。你確實在出力，而這股力氣是朝著拉你的那一方去的。換掉另一端的東西，三個用法就都出來了。另一端是對手，就是「爭奪」。另一端是不同的看法，就是「主張」。另一端是麻煩——大雨、噪音、又壞了一樣東西——就是「應付」。三個裡面那股拉扯都一樣，變的只是繩子另一頭綁著什麼。From the word’s history
Wiktionary's entry says contend came through Old French from Latin contendere, built from com- (together) and tendere (to stretch), the same tendere that gives extend, intend and attend. The old picture is of straining together, two forces stretched against each other — which is the rope image the modern uses all sit on.
Wiktionary 的說法是：contend 經由古法文來自拉丁文 contendere，由 com-（一起）加 tendere（拉、伸）組成。同一個 tendere 也造出了 extend、intend、attend。古早的畫面就是兩股力氣互相拉緊。這正好就是現在三個用法共用的那條繩子。
Wiktionary 'contend' etymology text supplied in this packet (source_ref kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:607165158)
Three branches
跟別的說法拉：主張
繩子另一端換成不同的看法，出力的方式從動手變成講理由。
verb · B2
To say firmly that something is true and give reasons for it, especially when other people think differently.
主張；聲稱
跟麻煩拉：contend with 應付
繩子另一端換成一件麻煩事：它一直拉著你，而你還是得把事情做完。
verb · B2
If you have to contend with something, you have to deal with a problem or a hard situation that makes what you are doing more difficult.
應付；對付（難題）
原始詞典資料5 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
contendverb/kənˈtɛnd/
- 1
To be in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.
- The Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle.
- For never two such kingdoms did contend without much fall of blood.
- 2
To struggle or exert oneself to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.
- 17th century, John Dryden, Epistle III to the Lady Castlemain You sit above, and see vain men below / Contend for what you only can bestow.
- God has entrusted something to the church, and it is the church's job to contend for it, even unto death
- 3
To be in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.
- these simple ideas are far from those innate principles which some contend for
- many of those things he so fiercely contended about , were either falle or trivial
- 4
To believe (something is reasonable) and argue (for it); to advocate.
- In this paper the author contends that no useful results can be obtained if this method is used.
- Some panellists contended that the costs of research and care justified the establishment of a permanent national commission
- 5
To try to cope with a difficulty or problem.
- However, the challenges for the railway world are much greater than for automotive as we generally have more occupants, higher speeds, greater masses, higher energies, and an absence of seatbelts or airbags to contend with.
資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。