Verb

(head)

(archaic, or, poetic) (confess)

* {{quote-book, year=1676, author=Izaak Walton, title=The Compleat Angler, chapter=, edition= citation

, passage=

* {{quote-book, year=1783, author=William Godwin, title=Four Early Pamphlets, chapter=, edition= citation

, passage=What though her face confest a darker shade? }}

*{{quote-book, year=1840, author=Edward Bulwer-Lytton, title=, chapter=, edition= citation

, passage=Oh! bold Fighting Attie, the knowing, the natty, By us all it must sure be confest , Though your shoppers and snobbers are pretty good robbers, A soldier is always the best. }}

Verb

(en verb)

To contend.

I will contest for the open seat on the board.

* Alexander Pope

Of man, who dares in pomp with Jove contest ?

* Bishop Burnet

The difficulty of an argument adds to the pleasure of contesting with it, when there are hopes of victory.

To call into question; to oppose.

The rival contested the dictator's re-election because of claims of voting irregularities.

* J. D. Morell

Few philosophical aphorisms have been more frequently repeated, few more contested than this.

To strive earnestly to hold or maintain; to struggle to defend.

The troops contested every inch of ground.

(legal) To make a subject of litigation; to defend, as a suit; to dispute or resist, as a claim, by course of law; to controvert.