Nearby Words

efforts

[ef-ert] Origin

ef·fort

[ef-ert]
noun
1.
exertion of physical or mental power: It will take great effort to achieve victory.
2.
an earnest or strenuous attempt: an effort to keep to the schedule.
3.
something done by exertion or hard work: I thought it would be easy, but it was an effort.
4.
an achievement, as in literature or art: The painting is one of his finest efforts.
5.
the amount of exertion expended for a specified purpose: the war effort.
EXPAND
6.
Chiefly British.
a.
an organized community drive or achievement.
b.
a fund-raising drive.
7.
Mechanics. the force or energy that is applied to a machine for the accomplishment of useful work.
COLLAPSE

Origin:
1480–90; < Middle French; Old French esfort, esforz, derivative of esforcier to force (es- ex-1 + forcier to force)

coun·ter·ef·fort, noun
o·ver·ef·fort, noun
pre·ef·fort, noun


1. struggle, striving. Effort, application, endeavor, exertion imply actions directed or force expended toward a definite end. Effort is an expenditure of energy to accomplish some objective: He made an effort to control himself. Application is continuous effort plus careful attention: constant application to duties. Endeavor means a continued and sustained series of efforts to achieve some, often worthy and difficult, end: a constant endeavor to be useful. Exertion is the vigorous and often strenuous expenditure of energy, frequently without an end: out of breath from exertion.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Efforts is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

effort
late 15c., from M.Fr. effort, noun of action from O.Fr. esforz, from esforcier "force out, exert oneself," from V.L. *exfortiare "to show strength," from L. ex- "out" + fortis "strong."
EXPAND
"Effort is only effort when it begins to hurt." [Ortega y Gasset, 1949]
Related: Efforts.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
effort   (ěf'ərt)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. Force applied against inertia.

  2. The force needed by a machine in order to accomplish work on a load. Compare load.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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