Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Attempt
At-tempt′
(?; 215)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Attempted
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Attempting
.] 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
Has earned a night’s repose.
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
That Vivien should
attempt
the blameless king. Thackeray.
3.
To try to win, subdue, or overcome;
as, one who
. attempts
the virtue of a womanDear sir, of force I must
Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute.
attempt
you further:Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute.
Shakespeare
4.
To attack; to make an effort or attack upon; to try to take by force;
as, to
. attempt
the enemy's campWithout
attempting
his adversary's life. Motley.
Syn. – See
Try
. At-tempt′
,Verb.
I.
To make an attempt; – with upon.
[Obs.]
Sir T. Browne.
At-tempt′
,Noun.
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.
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
. An attempt is always directed to some definite and specific object; trial
of one's strengthas, “The
.” attempt
, and not the deed, confounds usShak.
An endeavor is a continued attempt; as, “His high
.” endeavor
and his glad successCowper.
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
. Webster 1828 Edition
Attempt
ATTEMPT'
,Verb.
T.
1.
To make an effort to effect some object; to make trial or experiment; to try; to endeavor; to use exertion for any purpose; as, to attempt to sing; to attempt a bold flight.2.
To attack; to make an effort upon; as, to attempt the enemy's camp.This verb is not always followed by an object, and appears to be intransitive; but some object is understood, or a verb in the infinitive follows in the place of an object; as, he attempted to speak.
ATTEMPT'
,Noun.