feud
FYOOD
/fjuːd/
A prolonged and bitter quarrel or dispute, often between families or communities.
A feud is characterized by its duration and the deep-seated hatred involved. It often involves a cycle of revenge or retaliation.
The story behind the word. The word comes from Proto-Germanic roots meaning 'hatred' or 'hostility'. It is related to the word 'foe'. It has always carried the weight of deep, ancestral enmity.
Word relationships
- vendetta: A vendetta is a specific type of feud motivated by a desire for blood-revenge.
- reconciliation: The restoration of friendly relations.
Commonly confused with
- quarrel: A quarrel can be a one-time event; a feud is a state of ongoing hostility.
Word family
- feuding (adjective): Engaged in a prolonged, bitter dispute.
Collocations
- blood feud
- family feud
- bitter feud
Example sentences
- "A feud is this way: A man has a quarrel with another man, and kills him; then that other man's brother kills him; then the other brothers, on both sides, goes for one another." Describing a classic literary conflict.
Memory hook
A feud is a fight that lasts so long it becomes 'food' for the next generation's anger. Feud: Forever fighting.
When not to use
Do not use for a single argument; a feud requires time and history.
Fun facts
- The most famous American feud was between the Hatfields and the McCoys, lasting from 1863 to 1891.
Related words
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