attempt English · revision 2729

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1393, Gower|origins=la temptō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈtempt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|attempter]], a latinized form of atenter “to try, attempt, test” (modern attenter),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) or directly [[bor|la|attemptāre|t=to try; to tamper with; to attack]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|ad|t=to, toward]] and [[m|la|temptāre|t=to try, touch]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the source of [[tempt]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) The noun is from the verb.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To try to do, make an effort: before 1393, in Gower's ''Confessio Amantis'',^(Barnhart 1988) the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) The OED's first examples are from 1513.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 16th century attempt also meant “to try with temptations, to tempt” (1513, now archaic) and “to try with afflictions” (1525).^(OED 1989) The noun, an effort in a difficult or uncertain matter, is from about 1534,^(Barnhart 1988) the 1530s in Etymonline, and 1548 in Merriam-Webster.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) An attack, especially on someone's life, is from the 1580s,^(Etymonline) as in ''an attempt on the king's life''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1393 – to try.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1513 – to tempt.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1534 – noun, an effort.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1580s – noun, an attack.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To try to do or achieve something; to [[endeavor]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(archaic)'' To [[tempt]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(archaic)'' To attack.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An effort or try.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An attack: ''an attempt on his life''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[attemptable]]

+ * [[attempter]]

+ * [[attemptability]]

+ * [[unattempting]]

+ * [[reattempt]]

+ * [[unattempted]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tempt]]

+ * [[temptation]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}