nisus

Meaning

1. A mental or physical effort to attain a specific goal; a striving.
2. The periodic procreative desire manifested in the spring by birds, etc.
3. The contraction of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles to evacuate faeces or urine.

Synonyms

striving

pains

strain

exertion

kick up

labor

labour

moil

straining

struggle

toil

travail

trouble

work

care

donkeywork

effort

endeavor

endeavour

Etymology

From Latin nīsus (“pressure, exertion”).