efforting

[Clai Rice]

I've heard the verb "efforting" used a couple of times over the last few
days in war coverage. Once as a synonym for 'try', followed by an
infinitive, efforting to do something.  Another time it was used
transitively with 'it': a CNN reporter said, referring to a military
spokesperson, "they are, as they say, efforting it."

OED online gives one citation for 'effort' as a verb, (Obs.), 1662 with the
meaning "to strengthen, fortify."  A quick Google search turns up 1150 hits,
with about 8 in 10 having a source in yoga or meditation discourse.  Here's
a typical example:

        If your mind engages in its usual meditative routine,
        efforting to calm down or get rid of your thoughts
        or have the correct spiritual experience, so be it:
        just remain present and open to that as well.
        http://www.stephanbodian.org/stream.html

The business discourse examples refine the definition a bit (as you might
expect with a word borrowed from meditation practice into business!)

        With "downsize" the watchword of the day, many employees
        find themselves clocking much longer work weeks, but are
        they really working more or merely efforting? (Work is
        defined as energy expended to produce results; efforting
        is just expending energy.)
        http://www.alliesconsulting.com/services/ops.html

Derek Wyckoff reported on an OSU list (Lingosu) last year having heard it
used during coverage of the Daytone 500.  He provides both transitive and
infinitival complement examples:
http://ling.ohio-state.edu/pipermail/lingosu/2002-February/000018.html

--Clai Rice