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or less strenuous endeavor; struggle directed to the accomplishment of an object; as, an effort to scale a wall. We prize the stronger effort of his power. Pope.

Making no effort. Southey.

A fruitless effort or issue. [Obs.]

A superior force of voice or of articulative effort upon some particular syllable of a word or a phrase, distinguishing it from the others.

Tending to ameliorate; producing amelioration or improvement; as, ameliorative remedies, efforts.

The act of fixing the mind or closely applying one's self; assiduous effort; close attention; as, to injure the health by application to study. Had his application been equal to his talents, his progress night have been greater. J. Jay.

The attainment or reaching of any object, by effort, or in natural course; as, our arrival at this conclusion was wholly unexpected.

To reach a point by progressive motion; to gain or compass an object by effort, practice, study, inquiry, reasoning, or experiment. To arrive at, or attain to. When he arrived at manhood. Rogers. We arrive at knowledge of a law of nature by the generalization of facts. McCosh. If at great things thou wouldst arrive. Mi…

opriated assay chiefly to experiments in metallurgy, and essay to intellectual and bodily efforts. See Essay.]

To give support to in some undertaking or effort, or in time of distress; to help; to aid; to succor. Assist me, knight. I am undone! Shak.

combined. Associated movements (Physiol.), consensual movements which accompany voluntary efforts without our consciousness. Dunglison.

To achieve or accomplish, that is, to reach by efforts; to gain; to compass; as, to attain rest. Is he wise who hopes to attain the end without the means Abp. Tillotson.

Capable of being attained or reached by efforts of the mind or body; capable of being compassed or accomplished by efforts directed to the object. The highest pitch of perfection attainable in this life. Addison.

The act of attaining; the act of arriving at or reaching; hence, the act of obtaining by efforts. The attainment of every desired object. Sir W. Jones.

To attack; to make an effort or attack upon; to try to take by force; as, to attempt the enemy's camp. Without attempting his adversary's life. Motley.

Anything which brings misfortune upon one, or causes failure in an effort or enterprise; a reverse. [Scot.]

spair, he stood at bay. Dryden. The most terrible evils are just kept at bay by incessant efforts. I. Taylor

an action, state, or space of time; entrance into being or upon a course; the first act, effort, or state of a succession of acts or states. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Gen. i. 1.

the condition of, morally, physically, financially, socially, or otherwise. The constant effort of every man to better himself. Macaulay.

A sudden or forcible act or effort; an assault. A vigorous blow might win [Hanno's camp]. T. Arnold.