What is "endeavoring"

Endeavor \En*deav"or\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Endeavored; p. pr. & vb. n. Endeavoring.] [OE. endevor; pref. en- + dever, devoir, duty, F. devoir: cf. F. se mettre en devoir de faire quelque chose to try to do a thing, to go about it. See Devoir, Debt.] [Written also endeavour.] To exert physical or intellectual strength for the attainment of; to use efforts to effect; to strive to achieve or reach; to try; to attempt.

It is our duty to endeavor the recovery of these beneficial subjects.
--Ld. Chatham.

To endeavor one's self, to exert one's self strenuously to the fulfillment of a duty. [Obs.] ``A just man that endeavoreth himself to leave all wickedness.''
--Latimer.

n. The act by which one endeavors or strives; an attempt. vb. (present participle of endeavor English)