attract English · revision 6898

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1425|origins=la attraho}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈtɹækt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English attracten, [[bor|la|attractus|t=drawn to]], the past participle of [[m|la|attraho|alt=attrahere|t=to draw to]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) from [[m|la|ad|t=to]] and [[m|la|traho|alt=trahere|t=to draw, pull]] (see [[tract]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Barnhart allows it to be a back-formation from [[attraction]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In medicine, to draw out diseased matter, as a poultice does: probably before 1425, in a translation of Chauliac's surgery.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The body's absorbing of fluids and nourishment was also called attracting (1540).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Of physical forces such as magnetism it is from the 17th century (1627 in the OED).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The figurative sense, to draw by pleasing qualities, is from the 1630s,^(Etymonline) and to draw attention or interest generally follows.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1425 – to draw out diseased matter.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1540 – to absorb fluids.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1627 – of physical forces.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1630s – to draw by pleasing qualities.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To cause to come near or draw towards, as a [[magnet]] does.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To arouse interest or [[admiration]] in; to [[allure]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To draw notice or attention.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[attractable]]

+ * [[attractor]]

+ * [[attractableness]]

+ * [[attractingly]]

+ * [[reattract]]

+ * [[unattracting]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[attraction]]

+ * [[attractive]]

+ * [[tract]]

+ * [[traction]]

+ * [[abstract]]

+ * [[distract]]

+ * [[retract]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}