- 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."
"Effort is only effort when it begins to hurt." [Ortega y Gasset, 1949]
Related: Efforts.