labour

Definition

An effort expended on a particular task; toil, work.

Etymology

From Middle English labor, labour, labur, from Old French labor (modern labeur) and its etymon, Latin labor.

Example Sentences

• "[…]So I ſet myſelf to enlarge my Cave and Works farther into the Earth; for it was a looſe ſandy Rock, which yielded eaſily to the Labour I beſtowed on it[…]"
• "Being a labour of so great difficulty, the exact performance thereof we may rather wish than look for."
• "In the autumn there was a row at some cement works about the unskilled labour men. A union had just been started for them and all but a few joined. One of these blacklegs was laid for by a picket and knocked out of time."

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