Strife (?), n. [OF. estrif. See Strive.] 1. The act of striving; earnest endeavor. 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. “Lamenting her unlucky strife.” Spenser.
Syn. — Contest; struggle; quarrel. See Contention.