effort French · revision 17143

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=back-formation|attested=c. 1100, Chanson de Roland (esforz)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /e.fɔʁ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''effort''' ''m'' (plural efforts)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''esforz'' (1080); ''effort'' from the 14th century.^(GLLF 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a deverbal noun [[der|fr|efforcer]], Old French “esforcier”.^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary) The FEW classes it under popular Latin “*fortiare”, the source of [[forcer]].^(FEW|3, 730b)

+

+ Compare [[pro|esfort]], [[ca|esforç]], [[es|esfuerzo]], [[pt|esforço]] and [[it|sforzo]].^(Littré 1873)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the ''Chanson de Roland'' (about 1100) ''esforz'' meant troops, an armed force (''Paien ont grant esforz''), and impetuosity, as in ''a esforz'' “with all one's might”.^(GLLF 1989)^(Littré 1873)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “exertion of one's strength towards an end” is in the Châtelain de Coucy (end of the 12th century).^(GLLF 1989)^(TLFi) By extension it named a force exerted by a thing (1547) and the result of an effort (1559).^(TLFi) In 1678 Guillet used it for a strain or injury caused by excessive muscular effort, a sense now dated.^(TLFi)^(Larousse) Maine de Biran made the feeling of effort the basis of self-awareness.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1100 – ''Esforz'', troops, impetuosity, ''Chanson de Roland''.^(TLFi)

+ * late 12th century – Exertion, the Châtelain de Coucy.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 14th century – The spelling ''effort''.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1547 – A force exerted by a thing.^(TLFi)

+ * 1678 – A strain, Guillet.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|effort]], exertion of physical, mental or moral strength: ''faire un effort'', ''effort physique'', ''sans effort''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+ # An attempt: ''tous ses efforts ont échoué'', ''faire un effort de mémoire''.^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(mechanics)'' A force exerted on a body, a [[m|en|stress]].^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+ # ''(dated)'' A strain, an injury caused by overexertion.^(TLFi)^(Larousse)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[efforcer]]

+ * [[force]]

+ * [[fort]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}