A person or group that competes or argues for something; relating to struggle or competition.
From Latin contenders (one who contends), from contendere. The -ent suffix marks someone who performs the action of the verb.
This is an archaic or formal way to say 'competitor'—you'll find it in old legal documents and historical texts where the word's fighting energy feels exactly right for describing rival claimants to a throne or title.
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