empeño
/emˈpeɲo/ · B2 · noun · m
attempt
💪 empeño = em- (in) + peño (pledge, from pawn): you put yourself in as collateral
Empeño comes from empeñar, to pawn or pledge something. Pledging something as a guarantee means you are staking yourself on it, so the word grew into effort, insistence and commitment. Related: empeñarse en means to insist on or be determined to do something.