▪ I. strive, v.
(straɪv)
Pa. tense strove (strəʊv), pa. pple. striven (ˈstrɪv(ə)n). Forms: 3–8 stryve, 4 strijf, strivi, striwe, 4–5 stryf, 4, 6 strif, 4–6 stryfe, 4–7 strife, 5 stryff, 5–6 stryffe, 5–7 strywe, 7 strivve, 3– strive. pa. tense. α. weak forms 3 strivede, 3–9 strived, 4 stryvede, 6 strivde, stryved, Sc. stryvit, 7 strivd. β. strong forms 3–5 strof, 4 stroove, 4–5 stroof, 8 struive, 9 dial. struv, 4– strove; 4 straff, 4–6 Sc. strafe, straif, 5 Sc. straiff, 5–9 strave, 6 Sc. straiv, straw(e; also pl. 4–5 stryue (i), streven. pa. pple. α. weak forms 4 ystrived, 4–9 strived. β. strong forms 4 streven, -yn, strivin, stryve, stryven, Sc. strewine, striwine, -yn, strifine, 6 strevin, 6–7 stroven, 7–9 strove, 7 strivve, 4– striven.
[ME. strīve-n (13th c.), a. OF. estriver (early mod.F. étriver: still preserved in some dialects), to quarrel, contend: of disputed origin.
The verb is not found outside Fr., the alleged Pr. estribar cited by etymologists having no existence. It is commonly believed to be of Teut. etymology. According to some scholars, OF. estriver is f. estrif (whence strife n.), which is regarded as a modification of the older OF. (and Pr.) estrit, (= OIt. strido, strio), a. OTeut. *strīđo- strife, combat, related to *strīđan to fight: see stride v. According to others, the OF. verb (of which, on this view, the n. estrif is a derivative) is a. OTeut. *strīƀan str. vb. (Mid. G. strîben, early mod.Du. strijven, though these are prob. of secondary origin), f. root *strīƀ-, of which the ablaut-variant *strĭƀ- is represented by the weak verb MLG. streven (mod. LG. strewen), (M)Du. straven, MHG., mod.G. streben, to endeavour, struggle (= sense 9 below), also (from LG.) Sw. sträfva, Da. stræbe. Both explanations present some unsolved difficulties; the former is more satisfactory with regard to sense, but the notions of ‘conflict’ and ‘endeavour’ easily pass the one into the other.
The strong conjugation (on the analogy of drive etc.) is found somewhat earlier than the weak conjugation which would be normal for a verb adopted from Fr., and has always been the more frequent of the two, though many examples of strived pa. tense and pa. pple. occur in writers of every period from the 14th to the 19th c. The Bible of 1611 has always strove in the pa. tense; the pa. pple. is strived, striven (one example each). The irregular pa. pple. strove (after the pa. tense; cf. the form stroven of the 16–17th c.) appears first in the 17th c., and remained somewhat common down to the middle of the 19th c., but is now confined to illiterate use.]
1. intr. To be in a state of variance or mutual hostility. ? Obs.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 84 Þus ha beoð bisie i þisse fule mester, & eiðer mid oðer striueð her abuten. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 623 Þe king miȝte segge þat in a luþer time he striuede wiþ his wiue. 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 293 With his barons he striued, with him wild non go. A kyng þat striues with hise, he may not wele spede. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 1470 Now lofe we, now hate, now saghtel, now strife. 1340 Ayenb. 154 Vor þe scele ssel by ase a trewe arbytres be-tuene þe goste and þe ulesse þet byeþ alneway striuinde. c 1386 Chaucer Sompn. T. 278 And therfore Thomas, trowe me if thee leste, Ne stryue nat with thy wyf, as for thy beste. 1508 Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 59 It is agane the law of luif, of kynd, and of nature, Togiddir hairtis to streine, that stryveis with vther. 1540 Palsgr. Acolastus iv. iv. T iv, We shal not fyghte herefore .i. we will not fall at bate or stryue for this matter, or here aboute. a 1628 F. Greville Of Humane Learning cxxxiii. Poems (1633) 48 For earth, and earthynesse it is alone, Which envies, strifes, hates, or is malecontent. 1829 Scott Anne of G. xxxii, They say you cannot live in Rome and strive with the Pope. |
2. To quarrel, wrangle. Now rare (poet.).
| c 1290 Infancy Jesus 883–5 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1875) 31 Þis children bi gonne for to striue, And ech oþur þrettnede swiþe; So longue huy striueden with wicke mod, Þat euerech oþur vuele smot. 13.. Solomon's Coronation etc. 38 in A. Davy's Dream (E.E.T.S.) 97 Ȝerne þai striueden & chid. 1382 Wyclif Lev. xxiv. 10 A sone..of a womman of Yrael..hath streuen [Vulg. jurgatus est] in tentis with a man of Yrael. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour 126 The doughter of a senatour of Rome, that had so cruell hert that she straue & chidde in the plaine strete wit her neyghboures. 1461 Paston Lett. II. 42 It is talkyd here how that ye and Howard schuld a' strevyn togueder on the scher daye, and on of Howards men schuld a' strekyn yow twyess with a dagere. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon lxxxiii. 262, I began to stryue with my brother so hyely that Gybouars myght here me. 1860 Tennyson Sea Dreams 222 And still they strove and wrangled. |
† b. To bandy words with a superior; to behave mutinously. Const. with, against. Obs.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 323 Þis is þe womman of Ethiopia for þe whiche Mary and Aaron stryue [L. jurgati sunt] with Moyses in desert. c 1400 Rule St. Benet iii. 7 Þat nan folu þair ahen wille, ne nan bare þaim sua heȝe, þat tay striue ogain þair abes. c 1430 Diatorie 52 in Babees Bk. (1868) 58 First with þi bettir be waar for to stryue. c 1440 Alphabet of Tales 153 Þou sall se me correcte þis ill servand, & teche hym rather to be meke & speke fayr, þan for to flite or strife with his maister. c 1450 Bk. Curtasye 226 in Babees Bk. 305 Also, my chylde, a-gaynes þy lorde Loke þou stryfe with no kyn worde. |
3. To contend, carry on a conflict of any kind; esp. to contend with another or each other for (the possession of) something or for (a cause or principle).
| c 1290 Beket 1544 in S. Eng. Leg. 150 In þe churche of Caunterburi me þouȝte i stod..And striuede for holi churche aȝen þe kinge and his. c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. ii. pr. ii. (1868) 33 Stryf or plete wiþ me [L. mecum contende] by fore what iuge þat þou wilt of þe possessioun of rycchesse or of dignites. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxxvi. (Baptista) 720 We wil nocht for dignite striwe, ne quha sal gretare be. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 334 For this thei tellen that ben wise, Wicke is to stryve and have the werse. c 1450 tr. De Imitatione iii. iii. 66 Oþerwiles men striuen for o. peny riȝt shamfully. c 1485 Digby Myst. iii. 1997 Than why shold I with my consyens st[r]yffe? 1530 Palsgr. 740/2, I stryve to gette an offyce that gothe by electyon, je estriue. 1567 R. Birrel Diary (1798) 13 At this Parliament, the tounes of Dundie and Perth strave for the 2{supd} place amongst the burrowes. 1609 Sir J. Harington Nugæ Ant. (1804) II. 258 There it seemes also the colledges strave for him, he removed so oft. 1626 [Featley] Pelagius Rediv. To Rdr. A 2 b, The Doctrine so much strouen for, and so highly extolled by some, is it nothing but olde heresie new furbished ouer? 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 93 If intestine Broils allarm the Hive, (For two Pretenders oft for Empire strive) The Vulgar in divided Factions jar. 1847 S. Austin Ranke's Hist. Ref. III. 281 The old and bitter enemies with whom they had so long striven. 1905 J. B. Bury St. Patrick vi. 108 The story has a sequel which tells how Patrick strove with the other enchanter. |
b. To fight against temptation or the like; to wage spiritual warfare.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxxvi. (Baptista) 470 Þe thrid is crone þat sal be giffine to marteris at here has wele striwine. 1399 Langl. R. Redeles Prol. 82 Þe story is of non estate þat stryuen with her lustus. 1598 Sylvester Du Bartas i. i. 769 While Jesus strove with Sathan's strong Temptations. a 1716 South Serm. (1727) VI. 314 It is the tempted Person's Duty..to fence, and strive, and oppose the Temptation with all his Art, as well as Resolution, that he can. 1816 J. Wilson City of Plague i. iii. 211 In vain I strove Against the Tempter. 1816 Scott Old Mort. xlii, Did ye never sleep in the same room wi' him, and hear him strive in his dreams with the delusions of Satan? |
c. With cognate object. rare.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxvii. (Machor) 1514 My strife I haf weile strifine. 1833 Tennyson Two Voices 130 Waiting to strive a happy strife, To war with falsehood to the knife. |
d. To struggle with disease or suffering.
| 1666 G. Harvey Morbus Angl. xxxii. (1672) 101 Forestus knew another woman that strove eight years with a Consumption. 1686 tr. Chardin's Trav. Persia 18 M. de la Haye..strove with his distemper, and took a journey to Adrianople. 1786 Burns To Mountain Daisy viii, Such fate to suffering worth is giv'n, Who long with wants and woes has striv'n. |
† e. To struggle with hindrances. Const. to with inf. (Cf. sense 9.)
| 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, v. iii. 104 Ile striue with troubled noise [So Ff; Qo. 1597 and mod. edd. thoughts], to take a Nap. |
f. Of things: To be mutually opposed in action; to come into conflict with.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 315 The fuyre..stryueþ wiþ þe ayer. c 1425 Cast. Perseverance 64 Envye, a-geyn Charyte strywyth ful ryth. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 63 This request is full of violence and robbery and striveth [L. pugnat] with the Gospell. 1592 Kyd Sp. Trag. iii. i. 8 So striueth not the waues with sundry winds. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. I. i. 59 It swallyis vp hail schipis, and throuch the violence..of contrare workeng of the wais of the sey, quhen ilke streme stryues with vthir, drounes thame in the deip. a 1668 Denham On Earl of Strafford's Trial & Death 17 Now private pity strove with publick hate, Reason with Rage, and Eloquence with Fate. |
† 4. To contend in arms, fight with. Obs.
| 13.. K. Alis. 2870 How they stryveden for the kynriche. 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 40 For so hette S. Dunstan, he suld alle his lyue With werre his lond welde, & with his suerd stryve. 1340–70 Alisaunder 289 Philip enforceth hym now his folk for to gie;..Many mightfull menne made hee stryue. c 1400 Destr. Troy 3323 Your wille I moste wirke,..Syn weikenes of wemen may not wele stryve, Ne haue no might tawardes men maistries to fend. c 1470 Gol. & Gaw. 353 Wondir staluart and strang to striue in ane stour. 1470–85 Malory Arthur Contents 10 How a knyght & a dwarf stroof for a lady. 1598 T. Bastard Chrestol. vii. xlv. 183 Sakellus died striuing for the wall. a 1609 Sir F. Vere Comm. (1657) 38 Whilest it was hard stroven and fought on that side, I sent a Captain..to see what guard was held along the wall toward the Bay-ward. 1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. 418 The Germans strove againe for their parts with the like obstinate resolution. 1697 Dryden æneis xii. 57 Twice vanquish'd, while in bloody Fields we strive, Scarce in our Walls, we keep our Hopes alive. 1706 Prior Ode to Queen xxix, There Fleets shall strive by Winds and Waters tost. |
† 5. To contend in words, dispute. Chiefly followed by dependent question. Obs.
| 1320–30 Horn Childe in Ritson Metr. Rom. III. 306 Anon thai gun to strive rathe, Whether of hem him schuld have To duelle in her meinè. c 1325 Metr. Hom. 48 Wit sain Jon gan thai to strife, And said [etc.]. 138. Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 147 Jewis and disciplis of Joon strooven. 1382 ― Jude i. 9 When Mychael,..disputinge with the deuel, stroof [Vulg. altercaretur] of Moyses body. c 1425 Eng. Conquest Irel. (1896) 32 Heruy..& Reymond vp dyuers domes strouen what men shold do wyth har pryson[er]s. 1471 Caxton Recuyell (Sommer) 34 They argued and stroof to gyder that oon ayenst that other often tymes of this mater. 1535 Coverdale Job xxxii. 1 So these thre men wolde stryue nomore with Iob, because he helde himself a rightuous man. 1567 Gude & Godlie Ball. 43 For cause thay knew him to depart, Thay straif quha suld be ouerest. 1600 Hakluyt Voy. III. 438 Saying that they had strouen together who should haue him to his house. |
† b. To debate, discuss. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 13589 Þaa phariseus..Quen þai had striued þam emel..cuth na resun find, þai did þan bring again þat blind. 1340 Ayenb. 164 Þanne salomon huanne he hedde..of alle þinges and of foles and of wyse y-striued he zayde [etc.]. c 1350 Will. Palerne 4099 My wyf..striued stifli with hire-self as stepmoderes wol alle, bi what wise sche miȝt best þat bold barn spille. |
† c. To cavil, dispute. Const. of. Obs.
| 13.. Seuyn Sag. 1850 Go forth and strif nowt therof. 1541 R. Copland Galyen's Terap. 2 C j b, It behoueth nat than thus miserably to stryue of the names. 1549 Coverdale etc. Erasm. Par. 1 Cor. Argt. 1 b, Finallye they stryued among them selues of matrimonye, by reason that euen at that tyme some christian men styflye defended, that men should wholy abstayne from mariage. |
† 6. To contend in rivalry; to seek to surpass another or each other; to compete in a trial of strength or skill. Also to strive a vie (see a-vie adv.). Obs.
| c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 732 Þai straue wha first to lande myght wynne. 1509 [see a-vie adv.]. 1538 Starkey England i. iii. 92 Euery towne semyd to me to stryue wyth other, as hyt had byn for a vyctory, wych schold be more beutyful & strong. 1586 Lupton 1000 Notable Things (1660) 75 A man..with swift running contended and strived with Dogs, and was hunted of them unhurt in the Woods. 1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. xxviii. viii. 339 They run all at once striving a vie who shall be formost. [Holland often uses the phrase.] a 1610 Heywood & Rowley Fortune by Land & Sea iii. iv, Fost. I have no money. Phil. But now you strived which man would lend me most. 1615 Chapman Odyss. viii. 179 When all had striu'd in these assaies their fill. 1619 Sir A. Gorges tr. Bacon's Wisdom Anc. xxvi. 124 Certaine games of Lampbearers, in which they that striued for the prize were wont to carie torches lighted. 1638 Mayne Lucian (1664) 208 [They] smiled when they were rackt, and strived with their Tormentors who should be first tired. 1644 [see a-vie adv.]. 1648 Gage West Ind. 14 The Galley slaves strived who should sound their Waits and Trumpets most joyfully. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 28 The Rival Chariots in the Race shall strive. 1725 Pope Odyss. iv. 241 There with commutual zeal we both had strove, In acts of dear benevolence, and love. |
| fig. 1605 Shakes. Lear iv. iii. 18 Patience and sorrow strove [So Pope and later edd.; Qq. streme] Who should express her goodliest. 1636 R. Brathwait Rom. Emp. 372 All vertues in him contentiously strived to imbellish him. a 1700 Ken Hymnotheo Poet. Wks. 1721 III. 318 The bowing Fruits strove which should first be crop'd. |
† b. Const. to with inf. Obs. (cf. sense 9).
| 1520 Barclay Sallust, Batt. Jugurth liv. (Pynson) 78 b, They stryued [L. certantes] to ascende vnto the walles euery man couetyng to be before other. 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 52 The Kettle-drums and other their Iingling Instruments stroue to deafe vs. 1638 Mayne Lucian (1664) 140 But when the fame of the Oracle once pierced Italy, and arrived at Rome, every one strived to be first. |
† c. To vie, to be equal or comparable with.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 398 Asaeles swiftschipe, þet strof wið heortes ouervrn. c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 180 That Emelye, þat fairer was to sene Than is the lylie..For with the Rose colour stroof hire hewe. 1509 [see a-vie adv.]. 1540 Palsgr. Acolastus ii. iii. M ij b, Holde or take this money, and prepare vs a supper, that may stryue with a pontifycal or bishops feaste. 1597 Gerarde Herbal i. xxxv. 50 The roote..striueth with the Florentine Iris in sweetnes. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 273 Nor that sweet Grove Of Daphne by Orontes..might with this Paradise Of Eden strive. 1697 Dryden æneis v. 326 The Victor honour'd with a nobler Vest: Where Gold and Purple strive in equal Rows. 1700 ― Meleager & Atalanta 28 For Tusks with Indian Elephants he [the boar] strove. |
7. To offer obstinate resistance, struggle against.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 9306 For efter þat i es o-liue, Gains soth sal your eires striue. c 1300 Havelok 2271 Þer-yen ne wolde neuer on striue, þat he ne maden sone þat oth. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. vii. 305 While Hunger was mayster heer wolde ther non chyde, Ne striue aȝeyn the statutes. c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 41 No-þer ys non of hool mynde þat may stryf aȝeyn þis sentence. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xxxv. 14 Thow suffer me to wirk gif thow do weill, And preiss the nocht to stryfe aganis my quheill, Quhilk every warldly thing dois turne and steir. 1530 Palsgr. 740/2 Thou stryvest agaynst a thyng that is evydent. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 136 b, They did not chaunge him wholy, which strove and defended his opinions stifly [L. reluctantem suaque defendentem]. 1597 Beard Theatre God's Judgem. (1612) 66 The wonderfull judgements which the king of kings hath sent vpon those that..resisted and stroue against the truth. 1606 G. W[oodcocke] Hist. Ivstine iv. 22 Amongst the rest of these Tyrants, there was..one that striued against the cruelty of all the rest in the execution of Iustice. c 1709 Prior 2nd Hymn Callim. 33 Against the Deity 'tis hard to strive. 1760–72 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) II. 95 Vainly have I strove and struggled against you. 1858 H. Spencer Ess. I. 308 The thing I desperately strove against as a misfortune did me immense good. |
† b. with negative inf.
| 1623 Bingham Xenophon 101 Boiscus the Bœotian wrestler striued then, all he could, vnder pretence of sicknesse, not to carie his Target. |
8. To struggle physically. Obs. exc. dial. of a horse: To be restive.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xviii. xv. (1495) 775 Whan the wylde oxe hath longe stryue and maye not delyuer hymself out of the bondes..thenne for indignacion he loowyth full lowde. 1561 T. Hoby tr. Castiglione's Courtyer iii. (1577) Q ij b, And when she strived still more obstinatlye, at length with manye blowes and by force ouercame hir. 1562 T. Cooper Answ. Def. Truth xi. 83 The Deacon woulde not suffer so muche as the litle Infant to go without some parte [of the sacrament]: althoughe she striued against him, and scantely coulde force hir to take it. 1567 Turberv. Epit. etc. 34 The Nymph..in hir armes the naked Noorie strainde: Whereat the Boy began to striue a good, But strugling nought auailed in that plight. 1645 Gataker God's Eye on Israel 21 New named, and in stead of Jacob styled Israel, by the Angel, whom he had so strived and struggled with, at their parting. 1671 Milton P.R. iv. 564 As when Earths Son Antæus..in Irassa strove With Joves Alcides. a 1824 Ld. T. Stuart xi. in Maidment N.C. Garland 3 The steeds they strave into [= in] their stables, The boys couldn't get them bound. |
b. To struggle, endeavour to make one's way, against a natural force, e.g. winds, waves. Const. with, against.
The fig. phrase to strive against the stream (see stream n. 2 f) is perh. imitated from German: see quot. 1535 below.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 24855 Quen þai had striuen ai quils þai moght, again þat storm al was for noght. 1535 Coverdale Ecclus. iv. 26 Withstande not y⊇ face of the mightie, and stryue not agaynst the streame [Luther strebe nicht wider den Strom]. 1537 Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) II. 75 He that maketh you thus to stryve agenst the streame woll [etc.]. 1559 Mirr. Mag., Dk. Glocester xiv, To bridell the Prince of a Reame, Is euen..to striue with the streame. 1630 R. N. Camden's Hist. Eliz. i. 38 The Marquesse of Albeuf..hauing striued with the violence of a tempest vpon the coast of Holland, was with the losse of some shippes..driuen back to Diepe. 1697 Dryden æneis v. 37 We strive in vain against the Seas, and Wind. |
9. To endeavour vigorously, use strenuous effort. Const. to with inf. (Cf. sense 6 b.).
Now the prevailing sense; the other senses, so far as they survive, are usually coloured by this.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 11569 All for noght can he [sc. Herod] to striue, Moght he noght iesu bring o liue. 1382 Wyclif 2 Cor. v. 9 And therfore we stryuen [Vulg. contendimus] whether absent, whether present, for to plese him. a 1547 Surrey Eccles. ii. 12 By princely actes thus straue I still, to make my fame indure. 1576 Gascoigne Steele Gl. Wks. 1910 II. 145, I..Gan cleere my throte, and strave to sing my best. 1582 Breton Flourish upon Fancy (Grosart) 52/2 Although he striu'de, and tooke great pains, asmuch as in him lay. 1613 Shakes. Hen. VIII, ii. iv. 30 Which of your Friends Haue I not stroue to loue, although I knew He were mine Enemy? 1638 W. Lisle Heliodorus x. 181 Sith I cannot free you, though I strivve, Aske what I may doe for you, whilst you liue, And I shall grant it. 1643 Sir T. Browne Relig. Med. i. §19. 45 He striv'd to undermine the edifice of my faith. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 574 Stags..strive in vain to make their way Through Hills of Snow, and pitifully bray. 1780 Cowper Progr. Error 582 Habits are soon assum'd; but when we strive To strip them off, 'tis being flay'd alive. 1821 Scott Kenilw. xxxix, Having strove in vain to restore it [the casket] either to Tressilian or the Countess. 1831 T. Hope Ess. Orig. Man I. 34 This is what I have at least strived to do. I have tried to discard all preconceived opinions. 1843 Lytton Last Bar. i. iv. 27 He strove to lift himself from the ground, and at length succeeded. 1848 Dickens Dombey liii, It is our pride, not our trouble, to strive, John, and to strive together. 1865 Ruskin Sesame ii. §72 She is to be taught to strive that her thoughts of piety may not be feeble in proportion to the number they embrace. 1880 Mahaffy Descartes ii. 12 He ever strove to keep on good terms with the Order [of Jesuits]. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay viii, Her voice trembled; she strove to keep her self-control. |
b. transf. of things.
| a 1586 Sidney Arcadia ii. x. (1912) 207 With that he groned, as if sorrow strave to breake his harte. 1597 Donne Lett. Ser. Pers., Storme 60 Even our Ordinance plac'd for our defence, Strive to breake loose. 1598 Brandon Octavia iii. C 8 b, Looke how some proude hard harted mighty rocke..Repell's the waters..Which mildely striue his body to imbrace. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts 184 As if nature had only strouen to prouide sundry ready cures for this euill aboue all other. 1851 Ruskin Stones Ven. (1874) I. Pref. p. vi, Modern Art is now striving to realize the promise of its poet. 1874 Green Short Hist. vi. §3. 294 A series of mercantile enactments strove to protect the growing interests of English commerce. |
c. Const. after, for, † to, † unto (the object to be attained).
| a 1300 Cursor M. 23571 Quar-to þan suld we for-þer striue, Þan for to liue in santes liue? a 1591 H. Smith Serm. (1594) 411 This is the state that a Christian should striue too, and neuer thinke that hee is sound at the heart til his thoughts be a kind of prayer. 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. i. v. §2 The immutabilitie of God they [sc. all things] striue vnto, by working..after one and the same maner. 1605 A. Warren Poor Man's Pass. C 2 b, Then Diuision striued for a store, To marre what golden Age had made before. 1849 Lytton K. Arthur x. lxi, Thrice strove the King for speech, and thrice in vain. 1850 Tennyson In Mem. li, He for whose applause I strove. 1856 C. M. Yonge Daisy Chain i. xxvi, If I had striven for the temper, it would be worth having, but it is my nature. 1877 C. Geikie Christ lvi. (1879) 678 The priesthood had striven after kingly power and rank. |
10. To make one's way with effort.
| a 1586 Sidney Arcadia i. xv. §2 Now she brought them to see a seeled Dove, who, the blinder she was, the higher she strave. 1590 Spenser F.Q. iii. i. 18 But after the foule foster Timias did striue. 1813 Byron Corsair iii. xix, He..Strives through the surge, bestrides the beach, and high Ascends the path familiar to his eye. 1874 Carpenter Ment. Phys. i. ix. 412 Ever striving upwards, so as..to reach..a still loftier elevation. |
† b. Of a thing: To force its way. Obs.
| 1697 Dryden æneis x. 1160 The purple Streams thro' the thin Armour strove, And drench'd th' imbroider'd Coat his Mother wove. |
▪ II. strive
obs. form of strife.