RIVAL • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Rival

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

/rˈaɪvəl/ Listen

adjective

Rival adj. Having the same pretensions or claims; standing in competition for superiority; as, rival lovers; rival claims or pretensions. "The strenuous conflicts and alternate victories of two rival confederacies of statesmen."

noun

Rival n.

A person having a common right or privilege with another; a partner. (Obs.) "If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste."

One who is in pursuit of the same object as another; one striving to reach or obtain something which another is attempting to obtain, and which one only can posses; a competitor; as, rivals in love; rivals for a crown. Note: "Rivals, in the primary sense of the word, are those who dwell on the banks of the same stream. But since, as all experience shows, there is no such fruitful source of coutention as a water right, it would continually happen that these occupants of the opposite banks would be at strife with one another in regard of the periods during which they severally had a right to the use of the stream... And thus 'rivals'... came to be used of any who were on any grounds in more or less unfriendly competition with one another."

Synonyms: Competitor; emulator; antagonist.

verb

Rival v. t. (past & past part. rivaled or rivalled; pres. part. rivaling or rivalling)

To stand in competition with; to strive to gain some object in opposition to; as, to rival one in love.

To strive to equal or exel; to emulate. "To rival thunder in its rapid course."

Rival v. i. To be in rivalry. (Obs.)

See images of 'Rival'

Etymology of 'Rival'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

"Rival" Quotes from Famous Books

... her Ladyship professes to entertain, are the main cause of this discrepancy. For our own part, we conscientiously believe that the English journal has not gone half so far beyond the truth as its Scotch rival has fallen short of it, in their respective strictures. With regard to the republican bursts of Lady Morgan, we cannot help suspecting that there is more affectation and cant in them than sincerity:—she is too anxious to let it be known ...

— The American Quarterly Review, No. 17, March 1831 • Various

... in especial hatred, for the reason that he knew that he loved Rosa Minturn, and suspected that she loved him in return. Surrounded by such heartless allies as were the Iroquois, a cruel man like the Tory could readily find the means of doing what he willed in the way of punishing a rival in the affections of a lady. After indulging in these reflections until he wearied, the prisoner found himself wondering as to how long it would be before the Mohawk would find out what had befallen ...

— The Wilderness Fugitives • Edward S. Ellis

... how complete a victory he had already won over pretty Elspet Zohrer, her most dangerous rival, this late errand ...

— Uarda • Georg Ebers

... male now associated chiefly with the intruder, whom he even assisted in her labor, yet did not wholly forget his first partner, who called on him one evening in a low, affectionate tone, which was answered in the same strain. While they were thus engaged in friendly whispers, suddenly appeared the rival, and a violent rencontre ensued, so that one of the females appeared to be greatly agitated, and fluttered with spreading wings as if considerably hurt. The male, though prudently neutral in the contest, showed his culpable partiality by flying off with his paramour, ...

— In the Catskills • John Burroughs

... surprise At feeling thy white arms about his throat; To have been loved by Byron! Not in youth When ardent senses tempt to reckless choice, But in maturer years, when keen-eyed Truth Reveals the folly of the siren's voice. Last love is best, and this thou didst enjoy; Thy happy fate to see no rival claim A share in what was thine without alloy; How must the remnant of thy life seem tame! Yet this thy recompense,—that thou dost keep Thy friend and lover safe from every change; For, loyal to thy love, he fell asleep, And life it is, not ...

— Poems • John L. Stoddard

More quotes...