online medical dictionary | definition of strife

1. The act of striving; earnest endeavor.

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."

Synonyms: Contest, struggle, quarrel. See Contention.

Origin: OF. Estrif. See Strive.

(01 Mar 1998)