Attempt

Attempt
Attempt At*tempt" (?; 215), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Attempted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Attempting}.] [OF. atenter, also spelt atempter, F. attenter, fr. L. attentare to attempt; ad + tentare, temptare, to touch, try, v. intens. of tendere to stretch. See {Tempt}, and cf. {Attend}.] 1. To make trial or experiment of; to try; to endeavor to do or perform (some action); to assay; as, to attempt to sing; to attempt a bold flight. [1913 Webster]

Something attempted, something done, Has earned a night's repose. --Longfellow. [1913 Webster]

2. To try to move, by entreaty, by afflictions, or by temptations; to tempt. [Obs. or Archaic] [1913 Webster]

It made the laughter of an afternoon That Vivien should attempt the blameless king. --Thackeray. [1913 Webster]

3. To try to win, subdue, or overcome; as, one who attempts the virtue of a woman. [1913 Webster]

Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further: Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. To attack; to make an effort or attack upon; to try to take by force; as, to attempt the enemy's camp. [1913 Webster]

Without attempting his adversary's life. --Motley. [1913 Webster]

Syn: See {Try}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • attempt — at·tempt n: the crime of having the intent to commit and taking action in an effort to commit a crime that fails or is prevented – called also criminal attempt; see also impossibility ◇ There is no settled answer to how close to completing a… …   Law dictionary

  • attempt — vb Attempt, try, endeavor, essay, strive, struggle as verbs mean to make an effort to do something that may or may not be successful and as nouns (the single exception in form being striving) mean the effort made to accomplish such an end.… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Attempt — At*tempt , n. A essay, trial, or endeavor; an undertaking; an attack, or an effort to gain a point; esp. an unsuccessful, as contrasted with a successful, effort. [1913 Webster] By his blindness maimed for high attempts. Milton. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Attempt — At*tempt , v. i. To make an attempt; with upon. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • attempt — [n] try, effort all one’s got*, attack, bid*, crack*, dry run*, endeavor, exertion, experiment, fling, go, header*, lick*, one’s all, one’s darnedest*, one’s level best*, pursuit, shot, stab, striving, struggle, trial, try, tryout, undertaking,… …   New thesaurus

  • attempt — [ə tempt′] vt. [ME attempten < OFr attempter < L attemptare, to try, solicit < ad , to + temptare, to try: see TEMPT] 1. to make an effort to do, get, have, etc.; try; endeavor 2. Archaic to tempt n. 1. a try 2. an attack, as on a person …   English World dictionary

  • attempt — ► VERB ▪ make an effort to achieve or complete (something). ► NOUN ▪ an act of attempting. ORIGIN Latin attemptare, from temptare to tempt …   English terms dictionary

  • attempt — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun ADJECTIVE ▪ successful ▪ abortive, botched, failed, fruitless, futile, ill fated, misguided, unsuccessful …   Collocations dictionary

  • Attempt — This article is about the crime of attempt. For other uses, see wikt:attempt …   Wikipedia

  • attempt — I n. 1) to make an attempt 2) to foil, thwart an attempt 3) an abortive, fruitless, futile, vain; all out, concerted, last ditch; bold, brazen, daring; crude; deliberate; feeble, halfhearted, weak; first; premature; successful attempt; repeated… …   Combinatory dictionary

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