The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Strife \Strife\, n. [OF. estrif. See Strive.]
   1. The act of striving; earnest endeavor. [Archaic] --Shak.
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   2. Exertion or contention for superiority; contest of
      emulation, either by intellectual or physical efforts.
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            Doting about questions and strifes of words. --1
                                                  Tim. vi. 4.
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            Thus gods contended -- noble strife
            Who most should ease the wants of life. --Congreve.
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   3. Altercation; violent contention; fight; battle.
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            Twenty of them fought in this black strife. --Shak.
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            These vows, thus granted, raised a strife above
            Betwixt the god of war and queen of love. --Dryden.
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   4. That which is contended against; occasion of contest.
      [Obs.] "Lamenting her unlucky strife." --Spenser.
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   Syn: Contest; struggle; quarrel. See Contention.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

strife
    n 1: lack of agreement or harmony [syn: discord, strife]
    2: bitter conflict; heated often violent dissension