σπουδάζω
I. intr. "to make haste",
1. of things, "to be busy, eager, zealous, earnest" to do a thing, c. inf., Soph., etc.; also, σπ. περί τινος or τι Xen., Plat.; εἴς or πρός τι Dem.; ἐπί τινι Xen.
2. of persons, σπ. πρός τινα "to be busy" with him, Plat.; σπ. περί τινα "to be anxious" for his success, "canvass" for him, Xen.; ὑπέρ τινος Dem.
3. absol. "to be serious or earnest", Ar., etc.; ἐσπουδακότι προσώπωι with a "grave" face, Xen.
II. trans.,
1. c. acc. rei, "to do" anything "hastily or earnestly", Eur., Plat., etc.:—Pass. "to be zealously pursued", Eur., etc.:—esp. in perf. part., "serious", Plat., etc.
2. Pass., also, of persons, "to be treated with respect, to be courted", Arist., etc.