Contended

/kənˈtɛndɪd/ verb, adjective

Definition

Past tense: argued or claimed; Adjective: satisfied and at peace with one's situation.

Etymology

From Latin contendere (to struggle, compete), from con- (with, together) + tendere (to stretch, strain). The 'satisfied' meaning developed as a separate sense in English around the 16th century.

Kelly Says

The same word has two opposite vibes—one about fighting hard and one about being peaceful—which reveals something deep: in Latin, both pushing against something and accepting a burden involve tension. Medieval monks used 'contended' to describe spiritual peace.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.