feud

¹

[fyood]

noun

1. Also called blood feud. a bitter, continuous hostility, especially between two families, clans, etc., often lasting for many years or generations.

2. a bitter quarrel or contention.

   a feud between labor and management.

   Synonyms: difference, argument

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in a feud.

feud

²

[fyood]

noun

1. fee.

feud

¹

/ fjuːd /

noun

1. long and bitter hostility between two families, clans, or individuals; vendetta

2. a quarrel or dispute

verb

1. (intr) to take part in or carry on a feud

feud

²

/ fjuːd /

noun

1. feudal law land held in return for service

Word History and Origins

Origin of feud¹

1300–50; variant of fead ( a misread as u ), Middle English fede < Middle French fe ( i ) de < Old High German fēhida; cognate with Old English fǣhth enmity. See foe, -th ¹

Origin of feud²

1605–15; < Medieval Latin feudum, variant of feodum. See fee

Word History and Origins

Origin of feud¹

C13 fede , from Old French feide , from Old High German fēhida ; related to Old English fæhth hostility; see _foe

Origin of feud²

C17: from Medieval Latin feodum , of Germanic origin; see _fee

Example Sentences

I’m grateful to everyone who reads and shares this tradition, through all your family games, neighborhood feuds, sprained ankles, surgically-repaired shoulders, weddings, graduations, funerals, babies and at least three confused Aaron Rodgers franchises.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Jackson, who had long feuded with Combs, often took to social media to troll the Bad Boy Entertainment founder as the various allegations against him mounted and even through the criminal trial’s aftermath.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Since her public feud with the president, Greene said the threats against her have only increased.

Read more on BBC

In recent months, her years-long feud with fellow New York rapper Cardi B escalated in them trading insults about each others' careers and family members.

Read more on BBC

The diplomatic feud between China and Japan was ignited by Takaichi's suggestion that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on Taiwan.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• altercation 
• bad blood 
• bickering 
• conflict 
• contest 
• controversy 
• disagreement 
• discord 
• dispute 
• dissension 
• enmity 
• fight 
• fracas 
• hostility 
• quarrel 
• rivalry 
• row 
• run-in 
• squabble 
• strife