Strife (?), n. [OF. estrif. See Strive.]

1.

The act of striving; earnest endeavor.

[Archaic]

Shak.

2.

Exertion or contention for superiority; contest of emulation, either by intellectual or physical efforts.

Doting about questions and strifes of words. 1 Tim. vi. 4.

Thus gods contended -- noble strife - Who most should ease the wants of life. Congreve.

3.

Altercation; violent contention; fight; battle.

Twenty of them fought in this black strife. Shak.

These vows, thus granted, raised a strife above Betwixt the god of war and queen of love. Dryden.

4.

That which is contended against; occasion of contest.

[Obs.] "Lamenting her unlucky strife."

Spenser.

Syn. -- Contest; struggle; quarrel. See Contention.

 

© Webster 1913.

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