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Attempt   /ətˈɛmpt/   Listen
noun
Attempt  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."
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.
Synonyms: 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." An endeavor is a continued attempt; as, "His high endeavor and his glad success." 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." See Try.


verb
Attempt  v. t.  (past & past part. attempted; pres. part. 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 attempted, something done, Has earned a night's repose."
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."
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."
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."
Synonyms: See Try.


Attempt  v. i.  To make an attempt; with upon. (Obs.)





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Attempt" Quotes from Famous Books



... the woman; "I see you understand. Well, now, do you know what I would do if you should tell anybody where you came from, or attempt to run away? ...
— Timothy Crump's Ward - A Story of American Life • Horatio Alger
... not begin until 1847, when as a Whig he not only opposed any further extension of slavery but strove to commit his party to the policy of emancipation in all the States. Failing in this attempt, Sumner became an active Free-Boiler in 1848. He was twice a candidate for Congress on the Free-soil ticket but failed of election. In 1851 he was elected to the United States Senate by a coalition between his ...
— The Anti-Slavery Crusade - Volume 28 In The Chronicles Of America Series • Jesse Macy
... ever attempt to shave anybody, I wonder? According to one of the sketches he sent me from Duesseldorf he did, and was so engaged on a blind man Kennedy, when a Captain Marius comes on the scene and says, in discreet whisper and with much concern, "I say, governor, mind you don't gash his throat as you ...
— In Bohemia with Du Maurier - The First Of A Series Of Reminiscences • Felix Moscheles
... this bidding, rose up so far that Owasso would have imperiled his neck by any attempt to get ...
— The Indian Fairy Book - From the Original Legends • Cornelius Mathews
... of things stood quite unchanged. The semi-circular arch, the short, stout pillar, occasionally (but rarely) the dome: these were everywhere the mark of architecture. There was no change nor any attempt at change. The arts were saved but not increased, and the whole of the work that men did with their hands stood fast in mere tradition. No new town arises. If one is mentioned (Oxford, for instance) for the first time in the Dark Ages, whether ...
— Europe and the Faith - "Sine auctoritate nulla vita" • Hilaire Belloc


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