Definition

1. Noun:

   • A prolonged and bitter conflict or quarrel between two parties, often families or groups: A feud is characterized by deep-seated hostility and a long history of mutual animosity.
   • (Historical) A piece of land held under the feudal system; a fief: This is an archaic legal term for an estate granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for service.

2. Verb:

   • To carry on a prolonged and bitter quarrel or conflict: To feud is to engage in an ongoing state of hostility, often involving a series of disputes or acts of revenge.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The long-standing feud between the two families finally ended with a peace treaty.
  • (Historical) The knight received a feud from the king in return for his loyalty and military service.

• Verb:

  • The two professors have been feuding for years over their competing theories.
  • Neighbors who feud over property lines often make life difficult for everyone on the street.

Advanced Usage

• "to be at feud with someone": to be in a state of ongoing hostility with someone.

  • The two clans were at feud for generations.

• "blood feud" or "vendetta": a prolonged feud, especially between families, involving a cycle of retaliatory violence.

  • The blood feud claimed many lives before it was resolved.

Variants and Related Words

• Feudal (adj): Relating to the medieval system of landholding (feudalism).

  • The feudal system structured much of medieval European society.

• Feudatory (n/adj): (Historical) A person who holds a fief; relating to the holding of a fief.

  • The feudatory swore an oath of fealty to his lord.

Synonyms

• Noun: Conflict, quarrel, dispute, vendetta, rivalry, enmity, strife.
• Verb: Quarrel, fight, clash, dispute, bicker.

Related Phrases

• Family feud: A famous, long-running quarrel within a family.
  • The family feud over the inheritance divided the siblings.

Idioms

• "Sink a feud": To end or resolve a long-standing quarrel.
  • The elders met to sink the feud that had lasted for decades.

Noun

1. a bitter quarrel between two parties

Verb

1. carry out a feud
   • The two professors have been feuding for years