strive
    v 1: attempt by employing effort; "we endeavor to make our
         customers happy" [syn: endeavor, endeavour, strive]
    2: to exert much effort or energy; "straining our ears to hear"
       [syn: strive, reach, strain]

Strive \Strive\, n.
   1. An effort; a striving. [R.] --Chapman.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Strife; contention. [Obs.] --Wyclif (luke xxi. 9).
      [1913 Webster]

Strive \Strive\, v. i. [imp. Strove; p. p. Striven(Rarely,
   Strove); p. pr. & vb. n. Striving.] [OF. estriver; of
   Teutonic origin, and akin to G. streben, D. streven, Dan.
   straebe, Sw. str[aum]fva. Cf. Strife.]
   1. To make efforts; to use exertions; to endeavor with
      earnestness; to labor hard.
      [1913 Webster]

            Was for this his ambition strove
            To equal Caesar first, and after, Jove? --Cowley.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To struggle in opposition; to be in contention or dispute;
      to contend; to contest; -- followed by against or with
      before the person or thing opposed; as, strive against
      temptation; strive for the truth. --Chaucer.
      [1913 Webster]

            My Spirit shall not always strive with man. --Gen.
                                                  vi. 3.
      [1913 Webster]

            Why dost thou strive against him?     --Job xxxiii.
                                                  13.
      [1913 Webster]

            Now private pity strove with public hate,
            Reason with rage, and eloquence with fate. --Denham.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To vie; to compete; to be a rival. --Chaucer.
      [1913 Webster]

            [Not] that sweet grove
            Of Daphne, by Orontes and the inspired
            Castalian spring, might with this paradise
            Of Eden strive.                       --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: To contend; vie; struggle; endeavor; aim.
        [1913 Webster]