from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Compete \Com*pete"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Competed}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Competing}.] [L. completere, competitum; com- +
petere to seek. See {Petition}.]
To contend emulously; to seek or strive for the same thing,
position, or reward for which another is striving; to contend
in rivalry, as for a prize or in business; as, tradesmen
compete with one another.
[1913 Webster]
The rival statesmen, with eyes fixed on America, were
all the while competing for European alliances.
--Bancroft.
[1913 Webster] Competence