Part 756

<hw>At*tem`per*a"tion</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The act of attempering or regulating.</def> <mark>[Archaic]</mark>

<i>Bacon.</i>

<h1>Attemperly</h1> <Xpage=98>

<hw>At*tem"per*ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>Temperately.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Chaucer.</i>

<h1>Attemperment</h1> <Xpage=98>

<hw>At*tem"per*ment</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Attemperament.</def>

<h1>Attempt</h1> <Xpage=98>

<hw>At*tempt"</hw> <tt>(?; 215)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Attempted</er>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Attempting</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OF. <ets>atenter</ets>, also spelt <ets>atempter</ets>, F. <ets>attenter</ets>, fr. L. <ets>attentare</ets> to attempt; <ets>ad + tentare</ets>, <ets>temptare</ets>, to touch, try, v. intens. of <ets>tendere</ets> to stretch. See <er>Tempt</er>, and cf. <er>Attend</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To make trial or experiment of; to try; to endeavor to do or perform (some action); to assay; <as>as, to <ex>attempt</ex> to sing; to <ex>attempt</ex> a bold flight.</as></def>

<blockquote>Something <b>attempted</b>, something done, Has earned a night's repose. <i>Longfellow.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To try to move, by entreaty, by afflictions, or by temptations; to tempt.</def> <mark>[Obs. or Archaic]</mark>

<blockquote>It made the laughter of an afternoon That Vivien should <b>attempt</b> the blameless king. <i>Thackeray.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To try to win, subdue, or overcome; <as>as, one who <ex>attempts</ex> the virtue of a woman</as>.</def>

<blockquote>Dear sir, of force I must <b>attempt</b> you further:

Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To attack; to make an effort or attack upon; to try to take by force; <as>as, to <ex>attempt</ex> the enemy's camp</as>.</def>

<blockquote>Without <b>attempting</b> his adversary's life. <i>Motley.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- See <er>Try</er>.</syn>

<h1>Attempt</h1> <Xpage=98>

<hw>At*tempt"</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <def>To make an attempt; -- with <i>upon</i>.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Sir T. Browne.</i>

<h1>Attempt</h1> <Xpage=98>

<hw>At*tempt"</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>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.</def>

<blockquote>By his blindness maimed for high <b>attempts</b>. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Attempt to commit a crime</col> <fld>(Law)</fld>, <cd>such an intentional preparatory act as will apparently result, if not extrinsically hindered, in a crime which it was designed to effect.</cd></cs>

<i>Wharton.</i>

<syn>Syn. -- <er>Attempt</er>, <er>Endeavor</er>, <er>Effort</er>, <er>Exertion</er>, <er>Trial</er></syn>. <usage>These words agree in the idea of calling forth our powers into action. <i>Trial</i> is the generic term; it denotes a putting forth of one's powers with a view to determine what they can accomplish; <as>as, to make <ex>trial</ex> of one's strength</as>. An <i>attempt</i> is always directed to some definite and specific object; <as>as, "The <ex>attempt</ex>, and not the deed, confounds us</as>." <i>Shak</i>. An <i>endeavor</i> is a continued attempt; <as>as, "His high <ex>endeavor</ex> and his glad success</as>." <i>Cowper</i>. <i>Effort</i> is a specific putting forth of strength in order to carry out an attempt. <i>Exertion</i> 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." <i>C. J. Smith</i>. See <er>Try</er>.</usage>

<h1>Attemptable</h1> <Xpage=98>