Forms: see the verb. [app. f. next verb, which however appears later in our quots.]
1. The action of endeavoring; 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. G 3. Other Errors there are in the scope that men propound to themselues, whereunto they bend their endeauours.
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. Pennsylv., 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 endeavo(u)r(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, trans. More’s Utop., I. (Arb.), 56. Doynge my endeuoure to plucke out of hys mynde the … causes of vice.
1596. Shaks., 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. J. 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. Euery one is to doe his best indeauour, 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. Ibid. (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.
