strife

[strahyf]

noun

vigorous or bitter conflict, discord, or antagonism: to be at strife.
a quarrel, struggle, or clash: armed strife.
competition or rivalry: the strife of the marketplace.

Archaic. strenuous effort.

Origin of strife

1175–1225; Middle English strif < Old French estrif, akin to estriver to strive

Related formsstrife·ful, adjectivestrife·less, adjectiveun·der·strife, noun

Synonyms for strife

1. difference, disagreement, contrariety, opposition. 2. fight, conflict.

Antonyms for strife

1, 2. peace.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for strifeful

Historical Examples of strifeful

Egil's sons were tall and strifeful; they were most unfair men.
The story of Burnt Njal
Anonymous
Coming from the Chattan tribe I must hope the centuries since that strifeful day have brought reëxpansion to the Chattans.
The Spell of Scotland
Keith Clark
These things being so, it is foolish to say that these victories and this strifeful gain are matters of merely racial application.
Sparkling Gems of Race Knowledge Worth Reading
Various

British Dictionary definitions for strifeful

strife

noun

angry or violent struggle; conflict
rivalry or contention, esp of a bitter kind
Australian and NZ trouble or discord of any kindto get into strife
archaic striving

Word Origin for strife

C13: from Old French estrif, probably from estriver to strive

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for strifeful

strife

early 13c., from Old French estrif, variant of estrit "quarrel, dispute, impetuosity," probably from Frankish *strid, from Proto-Germanic *strido- "strife, combat" (cf. Old High German strit "quarrel, dispute"), related to Old High German stritan "to fight;" see stride.