[ef.fort] n [ME, fr. MF, fr. OF esfort, fr. esforcier to force, fr. ex- + forcier to force] (15c) 1: conscious exertion of power: hard work
2: a serious attempt: try
3: something produced by exertion or trying "the novel was her most ambitious ~"
4: effective force as distinguished from the possible resistance called into action by such a force
5: the total work done to achieve a particular end "the war ~"