4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  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}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Attempt  \At*tempt"\,  v.  i. 
  To  make  an  attempt;  --  with  upon  [Obs.]  --Sir  T.  Browne. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  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}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  attempt 
  n  1:  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"  [syn:  {effort},  {endeavor},  {endeavour}, 
  {try}] 
  2:  an  assault  on  someone  "they  made  an  attempt  on  his  life" 
  [syn:  {attack}] 
  v  1:  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"  [syn:  {try},  {seek},  {essay},  {assay}] 
  2:  enter  upon  an  activity  or  enterprise  [syn:  {undertake},  {set 
  about}] 

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