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.