contend vs wage

contend is not a noun while wage is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
contend	No	No	Yes	No
wage	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, wage is a hyponym of contend; that is, wage is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than contend:

contend (noun)	wage (noun)
	something that remunerates

contend (verb)	wage (verb)
to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation	carry on (wars, battles, or campaigns)
have an argument about something
maintain or assert
compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available