struggle
struggle
UK[ˈstrʌɡl]US[ˈstrʌɡl]
v
to try very hard to do, achieve, or deal with something that is difficult or that causes problems
v
to fight someone, especially when you are holding them
v
to move somewhere with great effort or difficulty
n
a long hard effort to do, achieve, or deal with something difficult
n
a fight, especially between two people
Etymology
The verb 'struggle' emerged in Middle English (as 'struglen'), likely of imitative or expressive origin, possibly related to similar Scandinavian words like Norwegian dialect 'struggla' meaning 'to stumble' or 'strive'. This suggests a core concept of strenuous, awkward, or laborious physical effort. The word's evolution reflects a semantic path from describing a specific, often clumsy, physical motion to encompassing broader abstract meanings of striving against difficulty or opposition. Its persistence in English, without clear classical roots, highlights its utility in expressing the fundamental human experience of exertion and conflict.
Analysis
The word 'struggle' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It is not productively formed from separable morphemes in modern English. Its core is the root 'struggle-', which functions as both a verb and a noun stem.
Examples
She struggled to lift the heavy box onto the shelf.
The two men struggled briefly before the police arrived.
After a long struggle, he finally managed to overcome his illness.