Verb

(en verb)

to strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.

* Bible, Deuteronomy ii. 9

The Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle.

* Shakespeare

For never two such kingdoms did contend without much fall of blood.

to struggle or exert one's self to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.

* Dryden

You sit above, and see vain men below / Contend for what you only can bestow.

to strive in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.

* John Locke

The question which our author would contend for.

* Dr H. More

Many things he fiercely contended about were trivial.

Verb

(dawdl)

To spend time idly and unfruitfully, to waste time.

* {{quote-news

, year=2011 , date=October 29 , author=Neil Johnston , title=Norwich 3 - 3 Blackburn , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=However all Hennessey's good work went to waste on 52 minutes when he dawdled on the ball.}}

* Johnson

Come some evening and dawdle over a dish of tea with me.

To spend (time) without haste or purpose.

to dawdle away the whole morning

To move or walk lackadaisically.

If you dawdle on your daily walk, you won't get as much exercise.

* Thackeray

We dawdle up and down Pall Mall.