contend
     v 1: maintain or assert; "He contended that Communism had no
          future" [syn: {postulate}]
     2: have an argument about something [syn: {argue}, {debate}, {fence}]
     3: to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation;
        "They contested the outcome of the race" [syn: {contest},
        {repugn}]
     4: compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself
        against others [syn: {compete}, {vie}]
     5: come to terms or deal successfully with; "We got by on just
        a gallon of gas"; "They made do on half a loaf of bread
        every day" [syn: {cope}, {get by}, {make out}, {make do},
        {grapple}, {deal}, {manage}]
Source: WordNet® 2.0