Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Strife

Strife , noun

[Old French estrif. See Strive.]

1.
The act of striving; earnest endeavor. [Archaic] — Shakespeare
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. — Shakespeare
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. [Obsolete]
Lamenting her unlucky strife. — Spenser