con·test (kŏn'tĕst')
n.

1. A struggle for superiority or victory between rivals.
2. A competition, especially one in which entrants perform separately and are rated by judges. See synonyms at conflict.

v., -test·ed, -test·ing, -tests. (kən-tĕst', kŏn'tĕst')

v.tr.

1. To compete or strive for.
2. To call into question and take an active stand against; dispute or challenge: contest a will. See synonyms at oppose.

v.intr.
To struggle or compete; contend: contested with other bidders for the antique.

[Probably from French conteste, from contester, to dispute, from Old French, to call to witness, from Latin contestārī : com-, com- + testis, witness.]

contestable con·test'a·ble adj.
contestation con'tes·ta'tion (kŏn'tĕ-stā'shən) n.
contester con·test'er n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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