All 50 Uses of
endeavor
in
Tom Jones, by Henry Fielding
- —Here her tears flowing apace, she stopped a few moments, and then proceeded thus:—"Indeed, sir, your kindness overcomes me; but I will endeavour to deserve this good opinion: for if I have the understanding you are so kindly pleased to allow me, such advice cannot be thrown away upon me.†
Book 1unconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavor.
- Mr Allworthy himself spoke to the captain in his brother's behalf, and desired to know what offence the doctor had committed; when the hard-hearted villain had the baseness to say that he should never forgive him for the injury which he had endeavoured to do him in his favour; which, he said, he had pumped out of him, and was such a cruelty that it ought not to be forgiven.†
Book 1endeavoured = tried or attemptedunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavored.
- For the reasons mentioned in the preceding chapter, and from some other matrimonial concessions, well known to most husbands, and which, like the secrets of freemasonry, should be divulged to none who are not members of that honourable fraternity, Mrs Partridge was pretty well satisfied that she had condemned her husband without cause, and endeavoured by acts of kindness to make him amends for her false suspicion.†
Book 2
- Mr Partridge acted for some time on the defensive only; indeed he attempted only to guard his face with his hands; but as he found that his antagonist abated nothing of her rage, he thought he might, at least, endeavour to disarm her, or rather to confine her arms; in doing which her cap fell off in the struggle, and her hair being too short to reach her shoulders, erected itself on her head; her stays likewise, which were laced through one single hole at the bottom, burst open; and her breasts, which were much more redundant than her hair, hung down below he†
Book 2unconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavor.
- The only way, as it appears to me, of solving this difficulty, is, by imputing it to that distance which was now grown between the lady and the housekeeper: whether this arose from a jealousy in Mrs Blifil, that Wilkins showed too great a respect to the foundling; for while she was endeavouring to ruin the little infant, in order to ingratiate herself with the captain, she was every day more and more commending it before Allworthy, as his fondness for it every day increased.†
Book 2endeavouring = trying or attemptingunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavoring.
- Partridge still persisted in asserting his innocence, though he admitted he had made the above-mentioned confession; which he however endeavoured to account for, by protesting that he was forced into it by the continued importunity she used: who vowed, that, as she was sure of his guilt, she would never leave tormenting him till he had owned it; and faithfully promised, that, in such case, she would never mention it to him more.†
Book 2endeavoured = tried or attemptedunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavored.
- Upon which the other lady, who was one of her most intimate acquaintance, and who well knew the true state of her affections, endeavoured all she could to pacify her, telling her—To be sure she could not help being uneasy; but that she should hope the best.†
Book 2
- The reader may perhaps be surprized, that, instead of endeavouring to revive the patient, the learned gentlemen should fall immediately into a dispute on the occasion of his death; but in reality all such experiments had been made before their arrival: for the captain was put into a warm bed, had his veins scarified, his forehead chafed, and all sorts of strong drops applied to his lips and nostrils.†
Book 2endeavouring = trying or attemptingunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavoring.
- I hope, therefore, no man will, by the grossest misunderstanding or perversion of my meaning, misrepresent me, as endeavouring to cast any ridicule on the greatest perfections of human nature; and which do, indeed, alone purify and ennoble the heart of man, and raise him above the brute creation.†
Book 3
- Square said, he had been endeavouring to reconcile the behaviour of Tom with his idea of perfect virtue, but could not.†
Book 3
- Short-lived then was the joy of these poor people; for Mr Allworthy the next morning declared he had fresh reason, without assigning it, for his anger, and strictly forbad Tom to mention George any more: though as for his family, he said he would endeavour to keep them from starving; but as to the fellow himself, he would leave him to the laws, which nothing could keep him from breaking.†
Book 3unconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavor.
- But lest this should not have been thy fortune, we will endeavour with our utmost skill to describe this paragon, though we are sensible that our highest abilities are very inadequate to the task.†
Book 4
- These Mr Allworthy endeavoured to assuage, promising her a much finer bird: but she declared she would never have another.†
Book 4endeavoured = tried or attemptedunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavored.
- However, she would now and then endeavour to lead him into her own taste; and when he required the repetition of his ballads, would answer with a "Nay, dear sir;" and would often beg him to suffer her to play something else.†
Book 4unconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavor.
- And as most probably she liked Tom as well as he liked her, so when she perceived his backwardness she herself grew proportionably forward; and when she saw he had entirely deserted the house, she found means of throwing herself in his way, and behaved in such a manner that the youth must have had very much or very little of the heroe if her endeavours had proved unsuccessful.†
Book 4endeavours = attempts; or things attemptedunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavors.
- Molly, having endeavoured in vain to make a handsome retreat, faced about; and laying hold of ragged Bess, who advanced in the front of the enemy, she at one blow felled her to the ground.†
Book 4endeavoured = tried or attemptedunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavored.
- A council was now called, in which, after many debates, Molly still persisting that she would not go to service, it was at length resolved, that Goody Seagrim herself should wait on Miss Western, and endeavour to procure the place for her eldest daughter, who declared great readiness to accept it: but Fortune, who seems to have been an enemy of this little family, afterwards put a stop to her promotion.†
Book 4unconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavor.
- I will endeavour to make amends, if possible; and if you shall have hereafter the goodness to forgive me, I hope I shall deserve it.†
Book 4
- The ladies themselves seem so sensible of this, that they are all industrious to procure foils: nay, they will become foils to themselves; for I have observed (at Bath particularly) that they endeavour to appear as ugly as possible in the morning, in order to set off that beauty which they intend to show you in the evening.†
Book 5
- Notwithstanding the nicest guard which Sophia endeavoured to set on her behaviour, she could not avoid letting some appearances now and then slip forth: for love may again be likened to a disease in this, that when it is denied a vent in one part, it will certainly break out in another.†
Book 5endeavoured = tried or attemptedunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavored.
- As he had therefore no hopes of obtaining her father's consent; so he thought to endeavour to succeed without it, and by such means to frustrate the great point of Mr Western's life, was to make a very ill use of his hospitality, and a very ungrateful return to the many little favours received (however roughly) at his hands.†
Book 5unconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavor.
- This conflict began soon to produce very strong and visible effects: for he lost all his usual sprightliness and gaiety of temper, and became not only melancholy when alone, but dejected and absent in company; nay, if ever he put on a forced mirth, to comply with Mr Western's humour, the constraint appeared so plain, that he seemed to have been giving the strongest evidence of what he endeavoured to conceal by such ostentation.†
Book 5endeavoured = tried or attemptedunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavored.
- This highly endeared him to her, and raised in her mind two of the best affections which any lover can wish to raise in a mistress—these were, esteem and pity—for sure the most outrageously rigid among her sex will excuse her pitying a man whom she saw miserable on her own account; nor can they blame her for esteeming one who visibly, from the most honourable motives, endeavoured to smother a flame in his own bosom, which, like the famous Spartan theft, was preying upon and consuming his very vitals.†
Book 5
- You would endeavour to lessen the obligation of having twice ventured it for my sake.†
Book 5unconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavor.
- I have struggled with my love to the utmost, and have endeavoured to conceal a fever which preys on my vitals, and will, I hope, soon make it impossible for me ever to offend you more.†
Book 5endeavoured = tried or attemptedunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavored.
- After this Mr Allworthy again laid himself down on his pillow, and endeavoured to compose himself to rest.†
Book 5
- I know to what it is owing; it proceeds from those narrow principles which you have been so long endeavouring to infuse into him, in contempt of everything which is great and noble.†
Book 5endeavouring = trying or attemptingunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavoring.
- The beauty and loveliness of friendship is too strong for dim eyes, nor can it be perceived by any other medium than that unerring rule of right, which you have so often endeavoured to ridicule, that you have perverted your friend's understanding.†
Book 5endeavoured = tried or attemptedunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavored.
- The young gentleman said he knew very well we were all mortal, and he would endeavour to submit to his loss as well as he could.†
Book 5unconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavor.
- He was therefore resolved to communicate it to him: for if his uncle recovered (as he heartily prayed he might) he knew he would never forgive an endeavour to keep a secret of this kind from him.†
Book 5
- Thwackum then offered to advance, and Jones laid hold of his arms; which Mr Blifil endeavoured to rescue, declaring, "he would not see his old master insulted."†
Book 5endeavoured = tried or attemptedunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavored.
- "I ask your pardon, sir," says Thwackum: "it is no such slight matter for a man of my character to be thus injuriously treated, and buffeted by a boy, only because I would have done my duty, in endeavouring to detect and bring to justice a wanton harlot; but, indeed, the principal fault lies in Mr Allworthy and yourself; for if you put the laws in execution, as you ought to do, you will soon rid the country of these vermin."†
Book 5endeavouring = trying or attemptingunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavoring.
- He earnestly endeavoured to prevail with the whole company to go and sup with him: but Blifil and Thwackum absolutely refused; the former saying, there were more reasons than he could then mention, why he must decline this honour; and the latter declaring (perhaps rightly) that it was not proper for a person of his function to be seen at any place in his present condition.†
Book 5endeavoured = tried or attemptedunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavored.
- First, she endeavoured to conceal a throbbing melancholy heart with the utmost sprightliness in her countenance, and the highest gaiety in her manner.†
Book 6
- Allworthy endeavoured to soften this resentment by many eulogiums on Sophia, declaring he had no doubt but that Mr Blifil would very gladly receive the offer; but all was ineffectual; he could obtain no other answer from the squire but—"I say no more—I humbly hope there's no harm done—that's all."†
Book 6
- Surely you will give me time to endeavour to get the better of so strong a disinclination as I have at present to this person.†
Book 6unconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavor.
- He desired leave to go to Sophia, that he might endeavour to obtain her concurrence with her father's inclinations.†
Book 6
- The parson now began to triumph in the success of his peace-making endeavours, and proceeded to read a lecture against anger, which might perhaps rather have tended to raise than to quiet that passion in some hasty minds.†
Book 6endeavours = attempts; or things attemptedunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavors.
- I mean the injustice of endeavouring to supplant another in a heart of which he seems already in possession; but the determined resolution of Mr Western shows that, in this case, I shall, by so doing, promote the happiness of every party; not only that of the parent, who will thus be preserved from the highest degree of misery, but of both the others, who must be undone by this match.†
Book 6endeavouring = trying or attemptingunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavoring.
- Nay, that is a trifle; for I know him to be one of the worst men in the world; for had my dear uncle known what I have hitherto endeavoured to conceal, he must have long since abandoned so profligate a wretch.†
Book 6endeavoured = tried or attemptedunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavored.
- Nor was I without my share of the effects of his malice, while I endeavoured to protect my tutor; but that I have long forgiven; nay, I prevailed with Mr Thwackum to forgive him too, and not to inform you of a secret which I feared might be fatal to him.†
Book 6
- While I have been endeavouring to fill her mind with maxims of prudence, you have been provoking her to reject them.
Book 6 *endeavouring = trying or attemptingunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavoring.
- On the contrary, niece, have I not endeavoured to inspire you with a true idea of the several relations in which a human creature stands in society?†
Book 7endeavoured = tried or attemptedunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavored.
- And this jealousy Sophia seldom failed of heightening on these occasions; for he was not contented with violating her ears with the abuse of her mother, but endeavoured to force an explicit approbation of all this abuse; with which desire he never could prevail upon her by any promise or threats to comply.†
Book 7
- "I beseech you then," cries Sophia, "upon my knees I beseech you, if I have been the unhappy occasion of this difference, that you will endeavour to make it up with my aunt, and not suffer her to leave your house in this violent rage of anger: she is a very good-natured woman, and a few civil words will satisfy her.†
Book 7unconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavor.
- If I have not therefore importuned you on this head, you will impute it only to my fear of offending the lady, by endeavouring to hurry on so blessed an event faster than a strict compliance with all the rules of decency and decorum will permit.†
Book 7endeavouring = trying or attemptingunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavoring.
- This excellent method of conveying a falsehood with the heart only, without making the tongue guilty of an untruth, by the means of equivocation and imposture, hath quieted the conscience of many a notable deceiver; and yet, when we consider that it is Omniscience on which these endeavour to impose, it may possibly seem capable of affording only a very superficial comfort; and that this artful and refined distinction between communicating a lie, and telling one, is hardly worth the pains it costs them.†
Book 7unconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavor.
- In truth (for we scorn to deceive our reader, or to vindicate the character of our heroine by ascribing her actions to supernatural impulse) the thoughts of her beloved Jones, and some hopes (however distant) in which he was very particularly concerned, immediately destroyed all which filial love, piety, and pride had, with their joint endeavours, been labouring to bring about.†
Book 7endeavours = attempts; or things attemptedunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavors.
- Jones was surprized at the impudence of this demand, and acquainted the soldiers with the merits of his cause, who were all unanimous in condemning the guide for his endeavours to put upon a gentleman.†
Book 7
- I did not imagine you would endeavour to impose upon me.†
Book 7unconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavor.
Definition:
to attempt; or a project or activity attempted