Makes an effort or attempt to do something; the third-person singular form of 'try.'
From Old French 'trier,' meaning 'to pick out' or 'sort.' The meaning shifted from selecting/sorting to 'attempting' because trying something was like testing or sampling it. The modern sense solidified by the 14th century.
The phrase 'just try' contains profound philosophy—psychologists note that effort itself, regardless of outcome, builds neural pathways and resilience. It's why coaching kids to 'try again' actually creates measurable brain changes that support learning better than praising success does.
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