"Gordon strove over to a cooking pot, squatted beside it and began to eat ravenously."

-The Daughter of Erlik Khan

strove1.

[strōv]

DEFINITION

past of strive

strive2.

[strīv]

VERB

strove (past tense)

to make great efforts

to struggle or fight vigorously:

synonyms: try (hard) · attempt · endeavor · aim · venture ·

make an effort · exert oneself · do one's best · do all one can · do one's utmost · labor · work · go all out · give it one's best shot · pull out all the stops · essay · struggle · fight · battle · combat · campaign · crusade

ORIGIN

Middle English: shortening of Old French estriver; related to estrif ‘strife.’

Literary Impressions of the Prose and Verse of Robert E. Howard

https://www.amazon.com/Well-Heroes-Literary-Impressions-Robert/dp/1546353844/ref=sr_1_1/139-6536987-6675238?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1493920079&sr=1-1