Endeavor - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

en·deav·or

Audio Help [en-dev-er] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used without object)

1.	to exert oneself to do or effect something; make an effort; strive: We must constantly endeavor if we are to succeed.

–verb (used with object)

2.	to attempt; try: He endeavors to keep things neat in his apartment.

3.	Archaic. to attempt to achieve or gain.

–noun

4.	a strenuous effort; attempt.

Also, especially British, en·deav·our.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME endeveren, from the phrase putten in devoir to make an effort, assume responsibility; cf. AF se mettre en deveir. See en-¹, devoir

]

—Related forms

en·deav·or·er; especially British, en·deav·our·er, noun

—Synonyms 1, 2. See try. 4. See effort.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Endeavor

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

en·deav·or Audio Help (ěn-děv'ər) Pronunciation Key
n.

A conscientious or concerted effort toward an end; an earnest attempt.
Purposeful or industrious activity; enterprise.

v.   en·deav·ored, en·deav·or·ing, en·deav·ors

v.   tr.
To attempt (fulfillment of a responsibility or an obligation, for example) by employment or expenditure of effort: endeavored to improve the quality of life in the inner city.

v.   intr.
To work with a set or specified goal or purpose.

[Middle English endevour, from endeveren, to make an effort, from (putten) in dever, (to put oneself) in duty, make it one's duty : in, in; see in¹ + dever, duty (from Old French deveir, devoir, duty; see devoir).]

en·deav'or·er n.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
endeavor

1417, lit. "in duty," from phrase put (oneself) in dever "make it one's duty" (a partial translation of O.Fr. mettre en deveir "put in duty"), from O.Fr. dever "duty," from L. debere "to owe."

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

endeavor
noun
1.	a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness); "he had doubts about the whole enterprise" [syn: enterprise]
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" [syn: attempt]
verb
1.	attempt by employing effort; "we endeavor to make our customers happy"

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Endeavor, WI (village, FIPS 24075) Location: 43.71468 N, 89.46891 W
Population (1990): 316 (123 housing units)
Area: 1.7 sq km (land), 0.2 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 53930

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Endeavor

At*tempt"\, n. A essay, trial, or endeavor; an undertaking; an attack, or an effort to gain a point; esp. an unsuccessful, as contrasted with a successful, effort.

By his blindness maimed for high attempts. --Milton.

Attempt to commit a crime (Law), such an intentional preparatory act as will apparently result, if not extrinsically hindered, in a crime which it was designed to effect. --Wharton.

Syn: Attempt, Endeavor, Effort, Exertion, Trial.

Usage: These words agree in the idea of calling forth our powers into action. Trial is the generic term; it denotes a putting forth of one's powers with a view to determine what they can accomplish; as, to make trial of one's strength. An attempt is always directed to some definite and specific object; as, "The attempt, and not the deed, confounds us." --Shak. An endeavor is a continued attempt; as, "His high endeavor and his glad success." --Cowper. Effort is a specific putting forth of strength in order to carry out an attempt. Exertion is the putting forth or active exercise of any faculty or power. "It admits of all degrees of effort and even natural action without effort." --C. J. Smith. See Try.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.

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

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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Endeavor

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

And such were praised who but endeavored well. --Pope.

Note: Usually with an infinitive; as, to endeavor to outstrip an antagonist.

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

Syn: To attempt; try; strive; struggle; essay; aim; seek.

On-line Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

endeavor

endeavor: in CancerWEB's On-line Medical Dictionary

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