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Added 7 October 2026

effort

/ˈɛf.ət/ noun

In Latin: mōlīmen, mōlīmentum, opera Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about effort at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The work involved in performing an activity; exertion.
make an effort
An endeavor.
Although he didn't win any medals, Johnson's effort at the Olympics won over many fans.
A force acting on a body in the direction of its motion.

verb

To make an effort.
To strengthen, fortify or stimulate

Origin

From Middle French effort, from Old French esfort, deverbal of esforcier (“to force, exert”), from Vulgar Latin *exfortiō, from Latin ex + fortis (“strong”). Compare typologically Bulgarian усилие (usilie), Czech úsilí, Polish wysiłek, Russian уси́лие (usílije) (< Proto-Slavic *sila).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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