Definitions for: Attempt


[n] the act of attacking; "attacks on women increased last year"; "they made an attempt on his life"
[n] earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something; "made an effort to cover all the reading material"; "wished him luck in his endeavor"; "she gave it a good try"
[v] enter upon an activity or enterprise
[v] make an effort or attempt; "He tried to shake off his fears"; "The infant had essayed a few wobbly steps"; "The police attempted to stop the thief"; "He sought to improve himself"; "She always seeks to do good in the world"



Webster (1913) Definition: 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.

Something attempted, something done, Has earned a
night's repose. --Longfellow.

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

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

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

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

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

Without attempting his adversary's life. --Motley.

Syn: See Try.


At*tempt", v. i.
To make an attempt; -- with upon. [Obs.] --Sir T. Browne.


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.

By his blindness maimed for high attempts. --Milton.

Attempt to commit a crime (Law), such an intentional
preparatory act as will apparently result, if not
extrinsically hindered, in a crime which it was designed
to effect. --Wharton.

Syn: Attempt, Endeavor, Effort, Exertion, Trial.

Usage: These words agree in the idea of calling forth our
powers into action. Trial is the generic term; it
denotes a putting forth of one's powers with a view to
determine what they can accomplish; as, to make trial
of one's strength. An attempt is always directed to
some definite and specific object; as, ``The attempt,
and not the deed, confounds us.'' --Shak. An endeavor
is a continued attempt; as, ``His high endeavor and
his glad success.'' --Cowper. Effort is a specific
putting forth of strength in order to carry out an
attempt. Exertion is the putting forth or active
exercise of any faculty or power. ``It admits of all
degrees of effort and even natural action without
effort.'' --C. J. Smith. See Try.

Synonyms: assay, attack, effort, endeavor, endeavour, essay, seek, set about, try, try, undertake

See Also: act, activity, adventure, assault, batting, battle, best, bid, braving, chance, confronting, contribution, coping with, crack, crime, endeavor, endeavour, essay, examine, fight, fling, foray, gamble, give it a try, give it a whirl, go, grappling, grope, hazard, initiate, law-breaking, lay on the line, liberation, move, mug's game, nisus, offer, pains, part, pass, pick up the gauntlet, pioneer, play, power play, prove, put on the line, research effort, risk, run, run a risk, seeking, share, shot, squeeze, squeeze play, strain, strive, striving, struggle, struggle, tackling, take a chance, take a dare, take chances, takeover attempt, test, test, trial, try out, whirl, worst

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