striving

striving
    n 1: an effortful attempt to attain a goal [syn: {striving},
         {nisus}, {pains}, {strain}]
    

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.
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            Was for this his ambition strove
            To equal Caesar first, and after, Jove? --Cowley.
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   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.
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            My Spirit shall not always strive with man. --Gen.
                                                  vi. 3.
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            Why dost thou strive against him?     --Job xxxiii.
                                                  13.
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            Now private pity strove with public hate,
            Reason with rage, and eloquence with fate. --Denham.
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   3. To vie; to compete; to be a rival. --Chaucer.
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            [Not] that sweet grove
            Of Daphne, by Orontes and the inspired
            Castalian spring, might with this paradise
            Of Eden strive.                       --Milton.
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   Syn: To contend; vie; struggle; endeavor; aim.
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Striving \Striv"ing\,
   a. & n. from {Strive}. -- {Striv"ing*ly}, adv.
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80 Moby Thesaurus words for "striving":
      aim, ambition, animus, aspiration, battling, combat, competition,
      conflict, contending, contestant, contesting, counsel,
      desideration, desideratum, design, desire, determination,
      disputant, drudging, effect, effort, emulation, endeavor, essay,
      exertion, fight, fighting, fixed purpose, function, grinding,
      grubbing, hardworking, hassle, idea, intendment, intent, intention,
      labor, laboring, meaning, mind, motive, nisus, pegging, plan,
      plodding, plugging, point, project, proposal, prospectus, purpose,
      quarrelsome, resolution, resolve, rivalry, sake, slaving, slogging,
      strain, straining, strife, struggle, struggling, study, sweating,
      toil, toiling, travail, trial, try, tug-of-war, undertaking, view,
      warfare, warlike, warring, will, work, working