valiantly

一昨日、昨日と二日連続で腹が痛くなり、持病の腎臓結石が降りてきたのだと思い今日の午前中に医者に行ったのですが、尿の検査で尿路結石に特有な兆候は見られず、今日のところは原因不明です。
さて、Reader's Digest 6月号の記事、The Art of Riceからの抜粋です。
While this seems like an easy job, it's anything but. After half an hour of trying to stick rice seedlings into the paddy, I have nothing but respect for the farmers cultivating rice. My body is even worse for wear after an hour. Trying
valiantly not to step on a seedling, I wobble instead and fall flat on five of them.
今日憶えたいのはこの "valiantly" の意味と用法です。 "valiant" に「勇敢な」の意味があるのは知っていますが、苗を踏まない様にすることは勇気があるないの問題ではありません。辞書で "valiantly" を見ます。
ほとんどの辞書は形容詞の "valiant" でしか意味を説明していません。
・Cambridge English Dictionary: very brave or bravely determined, especially when things are difficult or the situation gives no cause for hope: The company has made a valiant effort/attempt in the last two years to make itself more efficient.
・Oxford English Dictionary: possessing or showing courage or determination: she made a valiant effort to hold her anger in check.: a valiant warrior
・Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary: marked by, exhibiting, or carried out with courage or determination
勇気ではなくても "exhibiting, or carried out with determination" であれば使え、しかもRDの記事の様に失敗する様な場合に使われる事が多いのですね。