Word of the day, 13th March 2015

strive /straɪv/ (verb)
– To make a great and tenacious effort.
e.g. “strive to get promotion”

– To fight; contend

Bonus word meanings (in these contexts):

* tenacious /tɪˈneɪʃəs/ (adjective)  “persistent”
* contend /kənˈtɛnd/ (verb) “to struggle against; battle”

Related word:
strife /straɪf/ (noun) “angry or violent struggle; conflict“, “rivalry or contention, especially of a bitter kind”

In Cockney Rhyming Slang, “Trouble and strife” means “wife“.

To strive for something is to “make great efforts to achieve or obtain something.”

There might be all sorts of things that we strive for: good results in our studies or at work; learning English (or another language!); maybe some people strive just to get a basic education; or money; maybe good relationships?

I am asking myself, what am I striving for (if anything)?

Is there anything in particular you are striving for?

Some wise sayings about striving:

“Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.”
(Do not fight with someone who has done you no wrong).

“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.”
(Even if someone does something wrong to you, don’t treat them in the same way, but struggle hard to do what it right and good for them and for everyone).

“Then one said to [Jesus], ‘Lord, are there few who are saved?’ And He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. …’”
(Make every effort to find the Way to life – i.e. to get to know Jesus, who on another occasion said “I am the gate”).