endeavor

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a purposeful or industrious undertaking, especially one that requires effort or boldness

   We're excited about our new endeavors.

2. 2
   verb

   attempt by employing effort

   we endeavor to make our customers happy

3. 3
   noun

   A sincere attempt; a determined or assiduous effort towards a specific goal; assiduous or persistent activity.

   My fellow Americans: Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far. And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer: Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

4. 4
   verb

   To work with purpose.

   He draws eclectically on studies of baboons, descriptive anthropological accounts of hunter-gatherer societies and, in a few cases, the fossil record. With this biological framework in place, Corning endeavors to show that the capitalist system as currently practiced in the United States and elsewhere is manifestly unfair.

5. 5
   noun

   earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

6. 6
   verb

   To exert oneself.

7. 7
   verb

   To attempt through application of effort (to do something); to try strenuously.

8. 8
   verb

   To attempt (something).

Etymology

The verb is from Middle English endeveren (“to make an effort”); the noun is from Middle English endevour, from the verb. Endeveren is from (putten) in dever (“(to put oneself) in duty”), from in + dever (“duty”), partially translating Middle French (se mettre) en devoir (de faire) (“(to make it) one's duty (to do), to endeavour (to do)”) (from Old French devoir, deveir (“duty”)).