An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

To strive to outdo another for acknowledgment, a prize, supremacy, profit, etc.; engage in a contest (Dictionary.com).

M.E., from M.Fr. compéter, from L.L. competere "to strive in common," from → com- "together" + petere "to strive, go forward, seek," from PIE base *pet- "to fly, rush" (cf. Av. pat- "to fly, fall, rush," patarəta- "winged;" Mid.Pers. patet "falls," opastan "to fall;" Mod.Pers. oftâdan "to fall;" Skt. patati "he flies, falls," pátra- "wing, feather, leaf;" Gk. piptein "to fall," pterux "wing;" O.E. feðer "feather;" L. penna "feather, wing").

Hâjuyidan, from hâ-, variant of ham-, → com-, + juyidan "to strive for, seek," Parthian Mid.Pers. ywdy- "to strive for," Khotanese juv- "to fight," Av. yūd- (yaoda-) "to fight, struggle," yūdiieiti "fights," cf. Skt. yodh- "to fight," yúdh- "fight," Gk. hysmine "battle, fight," Lith. judus "belligerent."