efforting

[Alice Faber]

Clai Rice said:
>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."

I've heard it a number of times in the past year, on ESPN Radio. I
don't recall offhand whether it's been from the local New York guys
or the national guys. It's always used with a clear "wink wink"
intonation, as if they know full well it's an odd sort of word. The
context is usually that of a hot rumor (about a trade or managerial
firing) that one of the off-the-air guys is trying to get solid
information about.
--
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Alice Faber                                             faber at haskins.yale.edu
Haskins Laboratories                                  tel: (203) 865-6163 x258
New Haven, CT 06511 USA                                     fax (203) 865-8963