Etymograph

English

tryhard

From try + hard.

A compound of try + hard

Anglo-Norman trier

Middle English trien ‘to separate out’

English try

Proto-Germanic *harduz

Proto-West Germanic *hard(ī)

Old English heard ‘hard’

Middle English hard

English hard

Today it means

noun A person usually of little talent who tries hard to succeed, especially through imitation, usually to gain fame or popularity.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / tryhard