▪ I. endeavour, n.
(ɛnˈdɛvə(r))
Forms: see the verb.
[app. f. next verb, which however appears later in our quots.]
1. The action of endeavouring; effort, or pains, directed to attain an object; a strenuous attempt or enterprise.
| α 1417 Ld. Furnyval in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. I. 56 The great laboures, travels, and endevoures made by your said Lifetenaunte. 1440 [See endeavour v.]. 1549 Crowley Last Trump. 496 Se thou apply the to learnynge Wyth all thy busy endevoure. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. i. v. §10 (1873) 42 The scope that men propound to themselves, whereunto they bend their endeavours. 1618 Sir R. Boyle Diary (1886) I. 204, I gave Mr. Richard Archdeacon a young gelding for his endevors about my purchaze of dongarvan. 1655–60 Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 79/2 We should employ therein our utmost study and endeavour. 1745 in Col. Rec. Penn. V. 19 We will use our Endeavours to that End. 1750 Johnson Rambler No. 25 ¶5 To walk with circumspection..ought to be the constant endeavour of every reasonable being. 1814 Wordsw. White Doe v. 52 On him and on his high endeavour The light of praise shall shine for ever. 1856 Ruskin Mod. Paint. III. iv. vi. §4 The life of Angelico was almost entirely spent in the endeavour to imagine the beings belonging to another world. |
| β 1563 Shute Archit. A iij b, The firste frutes of my poor attemptes and indeuors. 1611 Bible Pref. 10 That hath bene our indeauour, that our marke. 1663 Marvell Corr. xli. Wks. 1872–5 II. 89 You have that fruit of our former indevors. 1663 Flagellum or O. Cromwell (1672) 12 Both which he studied with the same indifference and infide and falicious indeavour. 1743 J. Morris Serm. ii. 45 Kind indeavours to promote their happiness. |
b. to do one's endeavour(s: to exert oneself to the uttermost; to do all one can (in a cause or to an end). arch.
| α 1480 Robt. Devyll 42 The Emperoure charged every man to do his endever. 1551 Robinson tr. More's Utop. i. (Arb.) 56 Doynge my endeuoure to plucke out of hys mynde the..causes of vice. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. ii. ii. 182 My best endeuors shall be done herein. 1688 Evelyn Mem. (1857) II. 281, I did my endeavour with the Lords of the Treasury to be favourable to him. 1716–8 Lady M. W. Montague Lett. I. xiv. 48, I have done my best endeavour to find out something worth writing to you. 1745 Butler Serm. Wks. 1874 II. 287 We are to do our endeavours to promote virtue and religion amongst men. 1827 F. Cooper Prairie II. xvi. 255 Yes, lad, yes; you would do your endeavours. 1873 Browning Red Cott. Nt.-Cap 271 Do your endeavour like a man. |
| β c 1530 H. Rhodes Bk. Nurture in Babees Bk. (1868) 74 There doe your true indeuour. 1612 Brinsley Lud. Lit. iii. (1627) 13 Every one is to doe his best indeavour to know how to make it most easie. |
† 2. Philos. Used by Hobbes: (see quot.; in Latin conatus). Obs.
| 1651 Hobbes Leviath. i. vi. 23 These small beginnings of Motion, within the body of Man..are commonly called Endeavour. 1656 ― Elem. Philos. (1839) 206, I define endeavour to be motion made in less space and time than can be given. 1667 Boyle Orig. Formes & Qual. 3 Local Motion, or an Endeavour at it, is not included in the nature of Matter. |
▪ II. endeavour, v.
(ɛnˈdɛvə(r))
Forms: α. 5 endevoyre, endover, (endower, -re), 5–6 en-devoir, endever, 5–7 endevor(e, 6 endevyr, endevur, endevre, 6–7 endevour(e, 6– endeavour. β. 5–7 indevor, 6 indevur, 6–7 indever, indevour, 7–9 indeavour.
[f. en-1 + devoir n.; cf. the Fr. phrase se mettre en devoir de faire quelquechose to make it one's duty to do something; hence, to set about, to endeavour. Cf. also the following quot.:
1504 Nottingham Borough Rec. III. 325 And þat euery Mair for þe tyme beyng put in devoire to calle..his said Chaumberleyns.. to performe the same.]
† 1. refl. To exert oneself, use effort. Const. to with inf.; (rarely) for, to, with n.; also simply.
| α c 1400 York Myst. iv. 30 So that ye may endower To susteyn beast and man..Dwell here if that ye canne, This shall be your endowre. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 422/3 He..moche endeuoyred hym to make hym to lerne the deuyne Scripture. 1485 Procl. agst. Henry Tudor in Paston Lett. No. 883. III. 319 Like gode and true Englishmen to endover themselfs..for the defence of them. 1491 Act 7 Hen. VII, c. 22 Preamb., Endevoir youre self and put to your hand and spare no cost. 1521–2 Compl. North in Furniv. Ballads fr. MSS. I. 338 Wherfor I moste, & wyll do evyr, to pray for hys grace my selfe endevyr. 1540–1 Elyot Image Gov. (1549) Pref. 2, I endeuoured my selfe whiles I had leysour, to translate it into Englishe. 1642 J. Jackson Bk. of Conscience 86, I endeavour my selfe constantly both to refuse the evill and choose the good. |
| β 1495–6 Plumpton Corr. 115, I shall indevor me for you as farre as I can. 1535 Fisher Wks. i. 412 If thou wilt indeuer thee vpon thy parte. 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie i. viii. (Arb.) 36 They are as it were inforced to indeuour them selues to armes. 1614 Lodge Seneca Ep. 166 Indevour thyselfe as much as in thee lieth to the end, etc. 1655 Francion vii. 25 In the morning he did indeavour himself to make us friends. |
† b. trans. To exert (one's power), thoughts, etc. Obs. rare.
| 1574 Hellowes Gueuara's Fam. Ep. (1577) 397 Marcus Aurelius..endeuoured his power to persecute the Christians. 1606 G. W[oodcocke] tr. Hist. Ivstine 124 b, Euery man endeuored his thoughts how to make his duty, love, [etc.] encrese to him. Ibid. Ll. 5 b, Maximilian endeuored al his power against the Turke. 1642 Lanc. Tracts Civil War (1844) 18 Our high Sheriff..will readily..endeavour the power of the County against our proceedings. |
† 2. intr. for refl. To strive, try, exert oneself; to direct one's efforts. Obs. exc. as in 3.
| 1551 Turner Herbal i. (1568) 142 A gourde hath long runnyng branches, whiche naturally indevour upwarde. 1588 Allen Admon. 55 The pardon of his Holines, giuen to all..that..indeuor in this quarrell. 1606 G. W[oodcocke] tr. Hist. Ivstine 100 b, All the realme endeuored after his steps. 1624 Bargrave Serm. agst. Self-Policy 24 Let us indeuour with words and workes. |
3. intr. (The only mod. use.) To try, make an effort for a specified object; to attempt strenuously. a. Const. to with inf. Also (rarely) used impersonally in pass.
| α 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, i. iv, Every man that means to live well, endeavours to trust to himself. 1607 Topsell Serpents (1658) 591 He endevoureth to disperse and distribute the knowledge of his Majesty. 1649 Earl of Monmouth tr. Senault's Use of Passions (1671) 306 'Tis endeavoured to part them from themselves. 1651 in Nicholas Papers (1886) 269, I will endeavour..to save something of my estate. 1759 Hume Hist. Eng. III. liii. 133 It was even endeavoured to revive the first institution of the college of justice. 1883 Froude Short Stud. IV. i. iv. 44 He [the pope] sent the Archbishop of Rouen to England to endeavour to compromise matters. |
| β 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. xv. (1611) 207 The teares of their grieued eyes the Prophets indeuoured..to wipe away. c 1620 in Hatton Corr. (1878) 3 To know God's will and to indever to doe it. 1743 J. Morris Serm. ii. 47 He indeavours to preserve peace. |
b. With clause introduced by that.
| 16.. Father Walsh in Scotsman (1883) 17 Sept. 2/6 It were more charitable to endeavour that the errors might be taken away. |
c. Const. after, † at, † for.
| 1641 French Distill. vi. (1651) 194 All the Chymicall discoveries are..found out by..endeavouring after this. 1649 Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. i. viii. 113 A bloody king endeavoured for his destruction. 1704 Swift T. Tub Author's Apol., Which the world never..gave them any thanks for endeavouring at. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 106 ¶8, I could heartily wish that more of our Country-Clergy would..endeavour after a handsome Elocution. 1750 Johnson Rambler No. 9 ¶9 Every man ought to endeavour at eminence. 1851 H. Martineau Hist. Peace (1877) III. v. ix. 386 He was endeavouring after that enjoyment of domestic life. 1860 Mill Repr. Govt. ii. (1865) 10 If we are endeavouring after more riches. |
† 4. trans. To use effort or pains for; to attempt. Obs. exc. arch.
| α 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 468 The Lutherans..have never endevoured anything more carefully. 1620 Horæ Subseciuæ 109 Hate Couetousnesse, but endeuour thrift. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. (1703) II. vii. 288 We shall..endeavour the extirpation of Popery. 1656 More Antid. Ath. (1712) Pref. Gen., He is to endeavour the adorning of himself with such accomplishments. 1751 Johnson Rambler No. 87 ¶6 He who endeavours the cure of our intellectual maladies, mistakes their cause. 1818 Jas. Mill Brit. India I. iii. iii. 530 He was stimulated to endeavour the restoration. 1871 Ruskin Fors Clav. viii. 17 Had it never been endeavoured until now. |
| β 1586 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. (1589) 405 To indevor the spoile of all that is therein. 1601 R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. (1603) A b, I could..indevor a draught of your most Honourable praises. 1672 Marvell Reh. Transp. i. 146, I have here indeavoured the utmost ingenuity toward Mr. Bayes. |
† b. To try to fulfil (a law). Obs.
| 1643 Milton Divorce ii. xx. (1851) 116 Every act of true faith..as that whereby we endeavour the law. |
† 5. To make a (hostile) attempt upon; to attack. Obs. rare.
| 1589 Nashe Almond for P. 17 a, It is nought but a learned ministry which their champion Martin endeuors. 1606 R. Turnbull in Spurgeon Treas. Dav. Ps. xv. 5 It [teredo] hath such teeth as endeavoureth and consumeth the hard timber. |
[But perh. a nonce-wd. f. en-1 + devour.]