endeavor

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: enterpriseendeavourattemptefforttrystrive

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)“he had doubts about the whole enterprise”Synonyms: enterpriseendeavour
  2. earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something“made an effort to cover all the reading material”“wished him luck in his endeavor”“she gave it a good try”Synonyms: attempteffortendeavourtry

Verb (1)

  1. attempt by employing effort“we endeavor to make our customers happy”Synonyms: endeavourstrive
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Endeavor \En*deav"or\, v. i. To exert one's self; to work for a certain end. [1913 Webster]

And such were praised who but endeavored well. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

Note: Usually with an infinitive; as, to endeavor to outstrip an antagonist. [1913 Webster]

He had . . . endeavored earnestly to do his duty.— Prescott.

Syn: To attempt; try; strive; struggle; essay; aim; seek. [1913 Webster]

Endeavor \En*deav"or\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Endeavored; p. pr. & vb. n. Endeavoring.] [OE. endevor; pref. en- + dever, devoir, duty, F. devoir: cf. F. se mettre en devoir de faire quelque chose to try to do a thing, to go about it. See Devoir, Debt.] [Written also endeavour.] To exert physical or intellectual strength for the attainment of; to use efforts to effect; to strive to achieve or reach; to try; to attempt. [1913 Webster]

It is our duty to endeavor the recovery of these beneficial subjects. --Ld. Chatham. [1913 Webster]

To endeavor one's self, to exert one's self strenuously to the fulfillment of a duty. [Obs.] "A just man that endeavoreth himself to leave all wickedness." --Latimer. [1913 Webster]

Endeavor \En*deav"or\, n. [Written also endeavour.] An exertion of physical or intellectual strength toward the attainment of an object; a systematic or continuous attempt; an effort; a trial. [1913 Webster]

To employ all my endeavor to obey you. --Sir P. Sidney. [1913 Webster]

To do one's endeavor, to do one's duty; to put forth strenuous efforts to attain an object; -- a phrase derived from the Middle English phrase "to do one's dever" (duty). "Mr. Prynne proceeded to show he had done endeavor to prepare his answer." --Fuller.

Syn: Essay; trial; effort; exertion. See Attempt. [1913 Webster]

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