Definition of strife

The word "strife" has its roots in the Old English word "streon," which originally referred to a legal dispute or a lawsuit. The Old English word "streon" is believed to have evolved from the Proto-Germanic word "streinaz," which meant a legal case or strife. In Old English, the word "streon" was used in a broader sense, referring not only to legal disputes but also to any kind of conflict or contention. Over time, the meaning of the word narrowed, and by the Middle English period, it specifically referred to the state of being in conflict or competition with another person or group of people. The Old English word "streon" is also the root of other English words, such as "strain," which originally referred to the act of stretching something as a result of putting it under stress or pressure, and "strength," which originally referred to the ability to withstand or overcome a legal dispute or other form of strife. In summary, the word "strife" is derived from the Old English word "streon," which originally referred to a legal dispute or lawsuit but came to refer more broadly to any kind of conflict or contention.