strive
Pronunciation
  • IPA: /ˈstɹaɪv/
Etymology 1

From Middle English striven, from Old French estriver, from Frankish *strīban from Proto-Germanic *strībaną, or from Frankish *stribēn from Proto-Germanic *stribāną.

Verb

strive (strives, present participle striving; simple past strove, past participle striven)

  1. To try to achieve a result; to make strenuous effort; to try earnestly and persistently.
    He strove to excel.
    We strive for the truth.
  2. To struggle in opposition; to be in contention or dispute; to contend; to contest.
    to strive against fate
    • 1668, John Denham, “On the Earl of Strafford’s Tryal and Death”, in Poems and Translations, with The Sophy, 4th edition, London: […] [John Macock] for H[enry] Herringman […], →OCLC ↗:
      Now private pity strove with public hate, / Reason with rage, and eloquence with fate.
    • 1906, Lord Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany], Time and the Gods, London: William Heineman, →OCLC ↗, page 7 ↗:
      We have met this new thing that has come upon the earth and have striven against its armies, but could not drive them forth; and the new thing is beautiful but very angry, and is creeping towards the gods.
  3. To vie; to compete as a rival.
    • 1667, John Milton, “Book IV”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC ↗; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC ↗:
      [Not] that sweet grove
      Of Daphne, by Orontes and the inspired
      Castalian spring, might with this paradise
      Of Eden strive.
Conjugation Synonyms Related terms Translations Translations Noun

strive (plural strives)

  1. (obsolete) Alternative form of strife



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