Definition of labored

The word "labored" has its roots in Latin. The Latin word "laburare" means "to toil" or "to work hard". This Latin word is derived from "labrum", which means "flank" or "side", likely referring to the physical effort required to work or move along the sides of a field or a road. The word "labored" entered Middle English in the 13th century, initially meaning "toil" or "to labor". Over time, its sense expanded to include the concepts of "mental effort" and "difficulty" in addition to physical toil. In English, "labored" is often used to describe something that is slow, tedious, or overly complicated, such as "a labored explanation" or "a labored speech". Despite its evolution, the word's connection to the Latin concept of physical toil remains evident.