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. 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.
