struggle

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Struggled p. pr. & vb. n. Struggling ] [ OE. strogelen; cf. Icel. strj&unr_;ka to stroke, to beat, to flog, Sw. stryka to stroke, to strike, Dan. stryge, G. straucheln to stumble. Cf. Stroll. ] 1. To strive, or to make efforts, with a twisting, or with contortions of the body. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To use great efforts; to labor hard; to strive; to contend forcibly; as, to struggle to save one's life; to struggle with the waves; to struggle with adversity. [ 1913 Webster ]

The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it [ Gettysburg ] far above our power to add or detract. Lincoln. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To labor in pain or anguish; to be in agony; to labor in any kind of difficulty or distress. [ 1913 Webster ]

'T is wisdom to beware,
And better shun the bait than struggle in the snare. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To strive; contend; labor; endeavor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A violent effort or efforts with contortions of the body; agony; distress. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Great labor; forcible effort to obtain an object, or to avert an evil. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Contest; contention; strife. [ 1913 Webster ]

An honest might look upon the struggle with indifference. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Endeavor; effort; contest; labor; difficulty. [ 1913 Webster ]