a. and sb. Obs. Also 7 -dant. [a. F. contendant, L. contendent-em pr. pple.: see CONTEND.]
A. adj. Contending.
a. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon. (1642), 373. Controversies betwixt parties contendent in points of Fact.
B. sb. A contending party, one who contends.
1623. Favine, Theat. Hon., II. xii. 183. Commune to these two Contendants.
1694. R. L’Estrange, Fables, 4. Through the whole history of the world … the contendents have been still made a prey to a third party.
1813. Hogg, Queen’s Wake, 310. ‘For shame,’ said he, ‘contendents all! This outrage done in royal hall, Is to our country foul disgrace.’
