Competere

Competere is a Latin verb of the third conjugation meaning to strive together, to contend, or to compete. It can also denote meeting, coming together, or being fitting or suitable. The word is built from com- “together” and petere “to seek,” conveying the sense of seeking together toward a goal or aligning actions or qualities.

In classical usage, competere can be transitive or intransitive. It often expresses the idea of contending or vying for something, such as victory, honor, or a prize. It can also mean to meet or coincide with someone or something, in the sense of coming together in time, place, or circumstance. Additionally, competere can denote being suitable, proper, or fitting for a condition or purpose, implying compatibility or agreement between elements.

Etymology links point to its influence on several English derivatives. The noun and adjective forms derived from the participial stem include competition and competitive. The related Latin adjective competēns (or competens) means “fitting, suitable,” which in English contributes to the word competent. In Latin literature, competere is attested across genres, from rhetorical and legal contexts to narrative and epic, reflecting its broad semantic range from competition to agreement or suitability.

See also: compete, competition, competitive, competent, con-petere as a word-building note on the root petere.

Notes: As with many Latin verbs, exact conjugation patterns vary by author and period, and learners typically consult a grammar for principal parts and specific inflection.