Struggle vs Fray - What's the difference?

Struggle is a related term of fray.

As nouns the difference between struggle and fray

is that struggle is strife, contention, great effort while fray is affray; broil; contest; combat; brawl; melee.

As verbs the difference between struggle and fray

is that struggle is to strive, to labour in difficulty, to fight (for'' or ''against ), to contend while fray is to unravel; used particularly for the edge of something made of cloth, or the end of a rope.

struggle

English

Alternative forms

* (l), (l) (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)

Strife, contention, great effort.

*, chapter=23

, title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=The struggle with ways and means had recommenced, more difficult now a hundredfold than it had been before, because of their increasing needs. Their income disappeared as a little rivulet that is swallowed by the thirsty ground. He worked night and day to supplement it.}}

Verb

(struggl)

To strive, to labour in difficulty, to fight (for'' or ''against ), to contend.

*{{quote-news, year=2011, date=October 1, author=Tom Fordyce, work=BBC Sport

, title= Rugby World Cup 2011: England 16-12 Scotland , passage=England were ponderous with ball in hand, their runners static when taking the ball and their lines obvious, while their front row struggled badly in the scrum.}}

*{{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-28, author=(Joris Luyendijk)

, volume=189, issue=3, page=21, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Our banks are out of control , passage=Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic who still resists the idea that something drastic needs to happen for him to turn his life around.}}

To strive, or to make efforts, with a twisting, or with contortions of the body.

*:Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill.

Usage notes

* This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . See

fray

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) frai, aphetic variant of affray.

Noun

(en noun)

Affray; broil; contest; combat; brawl; melee.

Though they did not know the reason for the dispute, they did not hesitate to leap into the fray .

* Shakespeare

Who began this bloody fray ?

* {{quote-news

, year=2010 , date=December 29 , author=Mark Vesty , title=Wigan 2 - 2 Arsenal , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Wigan, unbeaten in five games at the DW Stadium, looked well in control but the catalyst for Arsenal's improvement finally came when Diaby left the field with a calf injury and Jack Wilshere came into the fray , bringing some much needed determination and urgency to lacklustre Arsenal. }}

(archaic) fright

Etymology 2

From (etyl) fraien, from (etyl) frayer, from (etyl) .

Verb

(en verb)

To unravel; used particularly for the edge of something made of cloth, or the end of a rope.

The ribbon frayed at the cut end.

(figuratively) To cause exhaustion, wear out (a person's mental strength).

The stressful day ended in frayed nerves. (Metaphorical use; nerves are visualised as strings)

(archaic) frighten; alarm

* 1662 , , Book II, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 63:

"Besides, all the wit and Philosophy in the world can never demonstrate, that the killing and slaughtering of a Beast is anymore then the striking of a Bush where a Bird's Nest is, where you fray away the Bird, and then seize upon the empty Nest."

* Spenser

What frays ye, that were wont to comfort me affrayed?

To bear the expense of; to defray.

* Massinger

The charge of my most curious and costly ingredients frayed , I shall acknowledge myself amply satisfied.

To rub.

* Sir Walter Scott

We can show the marks he made / When 'gainst the oak his antlers frayed .