effort
UK /ˈɛf.ət/ · US /ˈɛf.ɚt/ noun, verb
Forms efforts efforting efforted
- noun The work involved in performing an activity; exertion. “make an effort”
- noun An endeavor. “Although he didn't win any medals, Johnson's effort at the Olympics won over many fans.”
- noun A force acting on a body in the direction of its motion.
- verb (uncommon, intransitive) To make an effort.
- verb (obsolete, transitive) To strengthen, fortify or stimulate
Synonyms
trouble struggle attempt endeavor endeavour try elbow grease exertion travail sweat feat exploit campaign cause crusade drive movement
Etymology
From Middle French effort, from Old French esfort, deverbal of esforcier (“to force, exert”), from Vulgar Latin *exfortiō, from Latin ex + fortis (“strong”).
Compare typologically Bulgarian усилие (usilie), Czech úsilí, Polish wysiłek, Russian уси́лие (usílije) (< Proto-Slavic *sila).
Webster’s 1913
- noun An exertion of strength or power, whether physical or mental, in performing an act or aiming at an object; more or less strenuous endeavor; struggle directed to the accomplishment of an object; as, an effort to scale a wall.
- noun A force acting on a body in the direction of its motion.
- verb To stimulate. [Obs.] "He efforted his spirits." Fuller.
Etymology [F. effort, OF. esfort, for esfors, esforz, fr. esforcier. See Efforce.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “effort”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details