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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

attempt en · NOUN

Pronunciation

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Latin temptō Latin attemptōder. Old French atempterbor. Middle English attempten English attempt Late 14th century, as Middle English attempten, from Old French atempter, from Latin attemptō (“to try, solicit”), from ad- (“to”) + temptō; see tempt. The noun is from the 1530s, the sense "an assault on somebody's life, assassination attempt" (French attentat) is from 1580. By surface analysis, at- + tempt.

Meanings

  1. The action of trying at something.
    • We made an attempt to cross the stream, but didn’t manage.
    • It was worth the attempt.
    • This poem is much better than the feeble attempt of mine.
    • No matter how many failed attempts we made, we maintained a positive attitude and tried again and again until we succeeded.
    • But was it responsible governance to pass the Longitude Act without other efforts to protect British seamen? Or might it have been subterfuge—a disingenuous attempt to shift attention away from the realities of their life at sea 2012 March 14, William E. Carter, Merri Sue Carter, “The British Longitude Act Reconsidered”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 87:
  2. An assault or attack, especially an assassination attempt.
    • No man can charge us of any attempt against the realm. 1584, Allen’s Defence Of English Catholics, cited after Edinburgh Review 1883, page 378
  3. (qualifier:criminal law) A substantial but unsuccessful effort (to commit a crime).
    • Whoever voluntarily abandons the further commission of the offence or prevents its completion incurs no penalty for attempt. 2021, “German Criminal Code”, in gesetze-im-internet.de:
  4. An act of trying to commit suicide
    • Her attempt was not successful, and resulted in her being hospitalized.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
attempts Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

nonattempt · reattempt · attemptless

Synonyms

try · effort · bid

Translations (156)

ar مُحَاوَلَة (the action of trying at something) · fr essai (the action of trying at something) · nl poging (attack) · gsw Versuech (the action of trying at something) · ja 試し (the action of trying at something) · hi प्रयत्न (the action of trying at something) · ota سؤقصد (attack) · ja 未遂 (attack) · el απόπειρα (the action of trying at something) · mn оролдлого (the action of trying at something) · ka ცდა (the action of trying at something) · de Versuch (the action of trying at something) · it attentato (attack) · oc ensag (the action of trying at something) · pt tentativa (the action of trying at something) · ca temptativa (the action of trying at something) · gl intento (the action of trying at something) · mk обид (the action of trying at something) · sv försök (the action of trying at something) · sga ammus (the action of trying at something) · tr girişim (the action of trying at something) · tr suikast (attack) · fi hyökkäys (attack) · pt intento (the action of trying at something) · bg покуше́ние (attack) · oc pròva (the action of trying at something) · id usaha (the action of trying at something) · tr deneme (the action of trying at something) · sv attentat (attack) · gl tentativa (the action of trying at something) · ru про́ба (the action of trying at something) · sl poskus (the action of trying at something) · kk талап (the action of trying at something) · nn attentat (attack) · da forsøg (the action of trying at something) · bg атента́т (attack) · km ការប៉ុនប៉ង (the action of trying at something) · prs سُوءِ قَصْد (attack) · hu próbálkozás (the action of trying at something) · gl atentado (attack) · de Bestrebung (the action of trying at something) · id percobaan (the action of trying at something) · ms percubaan (the action of trying at something) · pt atentado (attack) · fr tentative (the action of trying at something) · ro atentat (attack) · lt bandymas (the action of trying at something) · af poging (the action of trying at something) · la conatus (the action of trying at something) · ga iarracht (the action of trying at something) · sh атѐнта̄т (attack) · nl aanslag (attack) · la temptāmentum (the action of trying at something) · ml പരിശ്രമം (the action of trying at something) · rop shat (the action of trying at something) · bn কোশেশ (the action of trying at something) · fi murhayritys (attack) · de Attentat (attack) · lv uzbrukums (attack) · fa-ira سوءِ قَصْد (attack) · et tapmiskatse (attack) · mi nganatanga (the action of trying at something) · sk atentát (attack) · mk атента́т (attack) · vi sự thử (the action of trying at something) · eu saio (the action of trying at something) · lt pasikėsinimas (attack) · bg о́пит (the action of trying at something) · fi yritys (the action of trying at something) · ru попы́тка (the action of trying at something) · bg про́ба (the action of trying at something) · uk за́мах (attack) · es intento (the action of trying at something) · be спро́ба (the action of trying at something) · gl tento (the action of trying at something) · sl atentat (attack) · ru о́пыт (the action of trying at something) · ro încercare (the action of trying at something) · oc assag (the action of trying at something) · ur کوشِش (the action of trying at something) · el προσπάθεια (the action of trying at something) · ar مُحَاوَلَة (attack) · ko 시도 (the action of trying at something) · id upaya (the action of trying at something) · pl próba (the action of trying at something) · la temptāmen (the action of trying at something) · oc temptativa (the action of trying at something) · pl podejście (the action of trying at something) · lv mēģinājums (the action of trying at something) · nb attentat (attack) · ca assaig mintent (the action of trying at something) · be зама́х (attack) · mi whakamātaunga (the action of trying at something) · sh pȍkušāj (the action of trying at something) · cs pokus (the action of trying at something) · hi कोशिश (the action of trying at something) · ml ശ്രമം (the action of trying at something) · es tentativa (the action of trying at something) · nb forsøk (the action of trying at something) · hy փորձ (the action of trying at something) · nl probeersel (the action of trying at something) · tg кӯшиш (the action of trying at something) · prs کوشِش (the action of trying at something) · nl poging (the action of trying at something) · eo provo (the action of trying at something) · es atentado (attack) · ka თავდასხმა (attack) · sh по̏куша̄ј (the action of trying at something) · my ကြိုးစားမှု (the action of trying at something) · hu merénylet (attack) · az sui-qəsd (attack) · et kallaletung (attack) · ca provatura (the action of trying at something) · yue 未遂 (attack) · uk спро́ба (the action of trying at something) · th ความพยายาม (the action of trying at something) · sh atèntāt (attack) · it tentativo (the action of trying at something) · tr teşebbüs (the action of trying at something) · yue 嘗試 /尝试 (the action of trying at something) · fi päällekarkaus (attack) · sq përpjekje (the action of trying at something) · de Anschlag (attack) · cs atentát (attack) · ko 미수 (attack) · ca prova (the action of trying at something) · fr attentat (attack) · lo ຄວາມພະຍາຍາມ (the action of trying at something) · es ensayo (the action of trying at something) · th การพยายาม (a substantial but unsuccessful effort (to commit a crime)) · uz urinish (the action of trying at something) · grc δοκιμή (the action of trying at something) · hi प्रयास (the action of trying at something) · ga ionsaí (the action of trying at something) · az cəhd (the action of trying at something) · ja 試み (the action of trying at something) · af probeerslag (the action of trying at something) · gd feuchainn (the action of trying at something) · ru покуше́ние (attack) · el απόπειρα (attack) · es intentona (the action of trying at something) · it sforzo (the action of trying at something) · hy մահափորձ (attack) · bg о́пит (a substantial but unsuccessful effort (to commit a crime)) · cmn 嘗試 /尝试 (the action of trying at something) · fa-ira کوشِش (the action of trying at something) · et katse (the action of trying at something) · nb angrep (attack) · te ప్రయత్నం (the action of trying at something) · pl zamach (attack) · de Bestreben (the action of trying at something) · ka შეთქმულება (attack) · he ניסיון \ נִסָּיוֹן (the action of trying at something) · da attentat (attack) · sk pokus (the action of trying at something) · cmn 未遂 (attack)

attempt en · VERB

Pronunciation

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Latin temptō Latin attemptōder. Old French atempterbor. Middle English attempten English attempt Late 14th century, as Middle English attempten, from Old French atempter, from Latin attemptō (“to try, solicit”), from ad- (“to”) + temptō; see tempt. The noun is from the 1530s, the sense "an assault on somebody's life, assassination attempt" (French attentat) is from 1580. By surface analysis, at- + tempt.

Meanings

  1. To try.
    • I attempted to sing, but my throat was too hoarse.
    • to attempt an escape from prison
    • A group of 80 budding mountaineers attempted Kilimanjaro, but 30 of them didn’t make it to the top.
    • Something attempted, something done, / Has earned a night's repose. 1842, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Village Blacksmith:
    • Some poems, echoing the purpose of early poetic treatises on scientific principles, attempt to elucidate the mathematical concepts that underlie prime numbers. Others play with primes’ cultural associations. Still others derive their structure from mathematical patterns involving primes. 2013 July-August, Sarah Glaz, “Ode to Prime Numbers”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4:
    • Although it's hard to get right, please attempt to do so.
  2. (obsolete) To try to move, by entreaty, by afflictions, or by temptations; to tempt.
    • It made the laughter of an afternoon / That Vivien should attempt the blameless king. 1859, Alfred Tennyson, “Vivien”, in Idylls of the King, London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], →OCLC, page 102:
    • Yet since I see you fearful, that neither my coat, integrity, nor persuasion can with ease attempt you, I will go further than I meant, to pluck all fears out of you. c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
  3. (archaic) To try to win, subdue, or overcome.
    • Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further: / Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute. c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
    • one who attempts the virtue of a woman
  4. (archaic) To attack; to make an effort or attack upon; to try to take by force.
    • to attempt the enemy’s camp
    • without attempting his adversary’s life 1830, John Motley, The Rise of the Dutch Republic:
  5. (qualifier:criminal law) To make a substantial but unsuccessful effort (to commit a crime).
    • Whoever takes a direct and immediate step towards the realisation of the offence as envisaged by them attempts to commit an offence. 2021, “German Criminal Code”, in gesetze-im-internet.de:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
attempteth Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres archaic lexicographic
attempting Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
attemptedst Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Past archaic lexicographic
attempt Number=Plur, Tense=Pres lexicographic
attempt VerbForm=Inf lexicographic
attempt Mood=Sub, Tense=Pres lexicographic
attempt Number=Sing, Person=1, Tense=Pres lexicographic
attempt Mood=Imp, Tense=Pres lexicographic
attempt Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Pres lexicographic
attempted Number=Plur, Tense=Past lexicographic
attempted Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Past lexicographic
attempted Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Past lexicographic
attempted Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
attempted Mood=Sub, Tense=Past lexicographic
attempted Number=Sing, Person=1, Tense=Past lexicographic
attempted Tense=Past lexicographic
attempts Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
attemptest Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Pres archaic lexicographic

Deriveds

attemptability · unattempted · apetempt · reattempt · attemptive · unattempting · attemptable · attempter

Synonyms

seek · essay · assay · take a stab at · take a run at

Translations (135)

sk pokúsiť sa (to try) · ga ionsaigh (to try) · ky аракет кылуу (to try) · is reyna (to try) · chr ᎠᏁᏟᏗᎭ (to try) · id berupaya (to try) · ky сынам (to try) · es ver de (to try) · uk намага́тися (to try) · be спрабава́ць (to try) · cy ymgeisio (to try) · hi कोशिश करना (to try) · ky аракет (to try) · crh tırışmaq (to try) · id coba (to try) · he ניסה \ נִסָּה (to try) · id berniat (to try) · cs zkusit (to try) · fur tentâ (to try) · pt tentar (to try) · gl tentar (to try) · ur کوشش کرنا (to try) · az cəhd etmək (to try) · nb prøve (to try) · pt intentar (to try) · ka ცდა (to try) · el προσπαθώ (to try) · mi tarai (to try) · nl proberen (to try) · gsw versueche (to try) · af probeer (to try) · ml ശ്രമിക്കുക (to try) · tr girişmek (to try) · lo ພະຍາຍາມ (to try) · grc πειράομαι (to try) · sk pokúšať sa (to try) · bg опитвам (to try) · non freista (to try) · cmn 嘗試 /尝试 (to try) · ja 試みる (to try) · gd feuch (to try) · bg пробвам (to try) · sh pokušavati (to try) · ru постара́ться (to try) · uk про́бувати (to try) · fo royna (to try) · ca temptar (de) (to try) · da prøve (to try) · nn freista (to try) · de versuchen (to try) · vec tantar (to try) · vi cố gắng (to try) · bg опитвам (to make a substantial but unsuccessful effort (to commit a crime)) · ru попро́бовать (to try) · cmn 試 /试 (to try) · lv mēģināt (to try) · ml പരിശ്രമിക്കുക (to try) · ky кол салуу (to try) · pl spróbować (to try) · es intentar (to try) · sl poskusiti (to try) · sv försöka (to try) · oc ensajar (de) (to try) · kk талпыну (to try) · tr denemek (to try) · la cōnor (to try) · fr tenter (to try) · et üritama (to try) · mn оролдох (to try) · es acometer (to try) · ota دكهمك (to try) · th พยายาม (to try) · et proovima (to try) · el αποπειρώμαι (to try) · tr kalkışmak (to try) · oc assajar (de) (to try) · es tratar de (to try) · ky тажрыйба (to try) · ja 試す (to try) · fi yrittää (to try) · ca provar (de) (to try) · te ప్రయత్నించు (to try) · oc temptar (de) (to try) · mi whakamātau (to try) · mg manohatra (to try) · sh pokušati (to try) · id mencoba (to try) · eo provi (to try) · sl poskušati (to try) · az çalışmaq (to try) · ar حَاوَلَ (to try) · fa کوشش کردن (to try) · fi koettaa (to try) · ru про́бовать (to try) · bg опитам (to make a substantial but unsuccessful effort (to commit a crime)) · el επιχειρώ (to try) · nl pogen (to try) · id berusaha (to try) · da forsøge (to try) · pt provar (to try) · it attentare (to try) · tr girişmek (to make a substantial but unsuccessful effort (to commit a crime)) · crh ıntılmaq (to try) · ca assajar (de) (to try) · kk тырысу (to try) · th พยายาม (to make a substantial but unsuccessful effort (to commit a crime)) · nb forsøke (to try) · ang onġinnan (to try) · it cercare (to try) · tr yeltenmek (to try) · ro încerca (to try) · ko 시도하다 (to try) · grc ἐγχειρέω (to try) · ky тырышуу (to try) · be спрабава́ць (to try) · hy փորձել (to try) · vo steifülön (to try) · hsb spytać (to try) · it provare (to try) · fr essayer (to try) · lo ທົດສອບ (to try) · oc provar (de) (to try) · cmn 試圖 /试图 (to try) · kk сынау (to try) · ru попыта́ться (to try) · sco ettle (to try) · nds-de versöken (to try) · pl próbować (to try) · et katsetama (to try) · it tentare (to try) · mg manandrana (to try) · ru пыта́ться (to try) · tr yeltenmek (to make a substantial but unsuccessful effort (to commit a crime)) · ru стара́ться (to try) · eu saiatu (to try)