Chapter 110

At*tempt" , 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 . Milton.

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.

Wharton.

Syn. -- 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 ." Shak . An endeavor is a continued attempt; as, "His high endeavor and his glad success ." Cowper . 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." C. J. Smith . See Try .

Attemptable <Xpage=98>

At*tempt"a*ble (#) , a. Capable of being attempted, tried, or attacked.

Shak.

Attempter <Xpage=98>

At*tempt"er (?; 215) , n. 1. One who attempts; one who essays anything.

2. An assailant; also, a temper. [Obs.]

Attemptive <Xpage=98>

At*tempt"ive (#) , a. Disposed to attempt; adventurous. [Obs.]

Daniel.

Attend <Xpage=98>

At*tend" (#) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Attended ; p. pr. & vb. n. Attending .] [OE. atenden , OF. atendre , F. attendre , to expect, to wait, fr. L. attendre to stretch, (sc. animum ), to apply the mind to; ad + tendere to stretch. See Tend .] 1. To direct the attention to; to fix the mind upon; to give heed to; to regard. [Obs.]

The diligent pilot in a dangerous tempest doth not attend the unskillful words of the passenger. Sir P. Sidney.

2. To care for; to look after; to take charge of; to watch over.

3. To go or stay with, as a companion, nurse, or servant; to visit professionally, as a physician; to accompany or follow in order to do service; to escort; to wait on; to serve.

The fifth had charge sick persons to attend . Spenser.

Attends the emperor in his royal court. Shak.

With a sore heart and a gloomy brow, he prepared to attend William thither. Macaulay.

4. To be present with; to accompany; to be united or consequent to; as, a measure attended with ill effects .

What cares must then attend the toiling swain. Dryden.

5. To be present at; as, to attend church, school, a concert, a business meeting .

6. To wait for; to await; to remain, abide, or be in store for. [Obs.]

The state that attends all men after this. Locke.

Three days I promised to attend my doom. Dryden.

Syn. -- To Attend , Mind , Regard , Heed , Notice . Attend is generic, the rest are specific terms. To mind is to attend so that it may not be forgotten; to regard is to look on a thing as of importance; to heed is to ~ to a thing from a principle of caution; to notice is to think on that which strikes the senses. Crabb . See Accompany .

Attend <Xpage=98>

At*tend" (#) , v. i. 1. To apply the mind, or pay attention, with a view to perceive, understand, or comply; to pay regard; to heed; to listen; -- usually followed by to .

Attend to the voice of my supplications. Ps. lxxxvi. 6.

Man can not at the same time attend to two objects. Jer. Taylor.

2. To accompany or be present or near at hand, in pursuance of duty; to be ready for service; to wait or be in waiting; -- often followed by on or upon .

He was required to attend upon the committee. Clarendon.

3. (with to ) To take charge of; to look after; as, to attend to a matter of business .

4. To wait; to stay; to delay. [Obs.]

For this perfection she must yet attend , Till to her Maker she espoused be. Sir J. Davies.

Syn. -- To Attend , Listen , Hearken . We attend with a view to hear and learn; we listen with fixed attention, in order to hear correctly, or to consider what has been said; we hearken when we listen with a willing mind, and in reference to obeying.

Attendance <Xpage=98>

At*tend"ance (#) , n. [OE. attendance , OF. atendance , fr. atendre , F. attendre . See Attend , v. t. ] 1. Attention; regard; careful application. [Obs.]

Till I come, give attendance to reading. 1 Tim. iv. 13.

2. The act of attending; state of being in waiting; service; ministry; the fact of being present; presence.

Constant attendance at church three times a day. Fielding.

3. Waiting for; expectation. [Obs.]

Languishing attendance and expectation of death. Hooker.

4. The persons attending; a retinue; attendants.

If your stray attendance by yet lodged. Milton.

Attendancy <Xpage=98>

At*tend"an*cy (#) , n. The quality of attending or accompanying; attendance; an attendant. [Obs.]

Attendant <Xpage=98>

At*tend"ant (#) , a. [F. attendant , p. pr. of attendre . See Attend , v. t. ] 1. Being present, or in the train; accompanying; in waiting.

From the attendant flotilla rang notes triumph. Sir W. Scott.

Cherub and Seraph . . . attendant on their Lord. Milton.

2. Accompanying, connected with, or immediately following, as consequential; consequent; as, intemperance with all its attendant evils .

The natural melancholy attendant upon his situation added to the gloom of the owner of the mansion. Sir W. Scott.

3. (Law) Depending on, or owing duty or service to; as, the widow attendant to the heir .

Cowell.

Attendant keys (Mus.) , the keys or scales most nearly related to, or having most in common with, the principal key; those, namely, of its fifth above, or dominant, its fifth below (fourth above), or subdominant, and its relative minor or major.

Attendant <Xpage=98>

At*tend"ant , n. 1. One who attends or accompanies in any character whatever, as a friend, companion, servant, agent, or suitor. "A train of attendants ."

Hallam.

2. One who is present and takes part in the proceedings; as, an attendant at a meeting .

3. That which accompanies; a concomitant.

[A] sense of fame, the attendant of noble spirits. Pope.

4. (Law) One who owes duty or service to, or depends on, another.

Cowell.

Attendement <Xpage=98>

At*tend"e*ment (#) , n. Intent. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Attender <Xpage=98>

At*tend"er (#) , n. One who, or that which, attends.

Attendment <Xpage=98>

At*tend"ment (#) , n. [Cf. OF. atendement .] An attendant circumstance. [Obs.]

The uncomfortable attendments of hell. Sir T. Browne.

Attent <Xpage=98>

At*tent" (#) , a. [L. attentus , p. p. of attendere . See Attend , v. t. ] Attentive; heedful. [Archaic]

Let thine ears be attent unto the prayer. 2 Chron. vi. 40.

Attent <Xpage=98>

At*tent" , n. Attention; heed. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Attentate, Attentat <Xpage=98>

At*ten"tate (#) , At*ten"tat (#) , n. [L. attentatum , pl. attentata , fr. attentare to attempt: cf. F. attentat criminal attempt. See Attempt .] 1. An attempt; an assault. [Obs.]

Bacon.

2. (Law) (a) A proceeding in a court of judicature, after an inhibition is decreed. (b) Any step wrongly innovated or attempted in a suit by an inferior judge.

Attention <Xpage=98>

At*ten"tion (#) , n. [L. attentio : cf. F. attention .] 1. The act or state of attending or heeding; the application of the mind to any object of sense, representation, or thought; notice; exclusive or special consideration; earnest consideration, thought, or regard; obedient or affectionate heed; the supposed power or faculty of attending.

<-- p. 99 -->

They say the tongues of dying men Enforce attention like deep harmony. Shak.

&hand; Attention is consciousness and something more. It is consciousness voluntarily applied, under its law of limitations, to some determinate object; it is consciousness concentrated.

Sir W. Hamilton.

2. An act of civility or courtesy; care for the comfort and pleasure of others; as, attentions paid to a stranger .

To pay attention to , To pay one's attentions to , to be courteous or attentive to; to wait upon as a lover; to court.

Syn. -- Care; heed; study; consideration; application; advertence; respect; regard.

Attentive <Xpage=99>

At*ten"tive (#) , a. [Cf. F. attentif .] 1. Heedful; intent; observant; regarding with care or attention.

&hand; Attentive is applied to the senses of hearing and seeing, as, an attentive ear or eye; to the application of the mind, as in contemplation; or to the application of the mind, in every possible sense, as when a person is attentive to the words, and to the manner and matter, of a speaker at the same time.

2. Heedful of the comfort of others; courteous.

Syn. -- Heedful; intent; observant; mindful; regardful; circumspect; watchful.

-- At*ten"tive*ly , adv. -- At*ten"tive*ness , n.

Attently <Xpage=99>

At*tent"ly , adv. Attentively. [Obs.]

Barrow.

Attenuant <Xpage=99>

At*ten"u*ant (#) , a. [L. attenuans , p. pr. of attenuare : cf. F. att\'82nuant . See Attenuate .] Making thin, as fluids; diluting; rendering less dense and viscid; diluent. -- n. (Med.) A medicine that thins or dilutes the fluids; a diluent.

Attenuate <Xpage=99>

At*ten"u*ate (#) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Attenuated (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Attenuating (#) .] [L. attenuatus , p. p. of attenuare ; ad + tenuare to make thin, tenuis thin. See Thin .] 1. To make thin or slender, as by mechanical or chemical action upon inanimate objects, or by the effects of starvation, disease, etc., upon living bodies.

2. To make thin or less consistent; to render less viscid or dense; to rarefy. Specifically: To subtilize, as the humors of the body, or to break them into finer parts.

3. To lessen the amount, force, or value of; to make less complex; to weaken.

To undersell our rivals . . . has led the manufacturer to . . . attenuate his processes, in the allotment of tasks, to an extreme point. I. Taylor.

We may reject and reject till we attenuate history into sapless meagerness. Sir F. Palgrave.

Attenuate <Xpage=99>

At*ten"u*ate , v. i. To become thin, slender, or fine; to grow less; to lessen.

The attention attenuates as its sphere contracts. Coleridge.

Attenuate, Attenuated <Xpage=99>

At*ten"u*ate (#) , At*ten"u*a`ted (#) , a. [L. attenuatus , p. p.] 1. Made thin or slender.

2. Made thin or less viscid; rarefied.

Bacon.

Attenuation <Xpage=99>

At*ten`u*a"tion (#) , n. [L. attenuatio : cf. F. att\'82nuation .] 1. The act or process of making slender, or the state of being slender; emaciation.

2. The act of attenuating; the act of making thin or less dense, or of rarefying, as fluids or gases.

3. The process of weakening in intensity; diminution of virulence; as, the attenuation of virus .

Atter <Xpage=99>

At"ter (#) , n. [AS. \'d6tter .] Poison; venom; corrupt matter from a sore. [Obs.]

Holland.

Attercop <Xpage=99>

At"ter*cop (#) , n. [AS. attercoppa a spider; \'d6tter poison + coppa head, cup.] 1. A spider. [Obs.]

2. A peevish, ill-natured person. [North of Eng.]

Atterrate <Xpage=99>

At*ter*rate (#) , v. t. [It. atterrare (cf. LL. atterrare to cast to earth); L. ad + terra earth, land.] To fill up with alluvial earth. [Obs.]

Ray.

Atterration <Xpage=99>

At`ter*ra"tion (#) , n. The act of filling up with earth, or of forming land with alluvial earth. [Obs.]

Attest <Xpage=99>

At"test" (#) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Attested ; p. pr. & vb. n. Attesting .] [L. attestari ; ad + testari to bear witness: cf. F. attester .] 1. To bear witness to; to certify; to affirm to be true or genuine; as, to attest the truth of a writing, a copy of record .

Facts . . . attested by particular pagan authors. Addison.

2. To give proof of; to manifest; as, the ruins of Palmyra attest its ancient magnificence .

3. To call to witness; to invoke. [Archaic]

The sacred streams which Heaven's imperial state Attests in oaths, and fears to violate. Dryden.

Attest <Xpage=99>

At*test" , n. Witness; testimony; attestation. [R.]

The attest of eyes and ears. Shak.

Attestation <Xpage=99>

At`tes*ta"tion (#) , n. [L. attestatio : cf. F. attestation .] The act of attesting; testimony; witness; a solemn or official declaration, verbal or written, in support of a fact; evidence. The truth appears from the attestation of witnesses, or of the proper officer. The subscription of a name to a writing as a witness, is an attestation .

Attestative <Xpage=99>

At*test"a*tive (#) , a. Of the nature of attestation.

Attester, Attestor <Xpage=99>

At*test"er (#) , At*test"or (#) , n. One who attests.

Attestive <Xpage=99>

At*test"ive (#) , a. Attesting; furnishing evidence.

Attic <Xpage=99>

At"tic (#) , a. [L. Atticus , Gr. <?/.] Of or pertaining to Attica, in Greece, or to Athens, its principal city; marked by such qualities as were characteristic of the Athenians; classical; refined.

Attic base (Arch.) , a peculiar form of molded base for a column or pilaster, described by Vitruvius, applied under the Roman Empire to the Ionic and Corinthian and "Roman Doric" orders, and imitated by the architects of the Renaissance. -- Attic faith , inviolable faith. -- Attic purity , special purity of language. -- Attic salt , Attic wit , a poignant, delicate wit, peculiar to the Athenians. -- Attic story . See Attic , n. -- Attic style , a style pure and elegant.

Attic <Xpage=99>

At"tic , n. [In sense ( a ) from F. attique , orig. meaning Attic. See Attic , a. ] 1. (Arch.) (a) A low story above the main order or orders of a facade, in the classical styles; -- a term introduced in the 17th century. Hence: (b) A room or rooms behind that part of the exterior; all the rooms immediately below the roof.

2. An Athenian; an Athenian author.

Attical <Xpage=99>

At"tic*al (#) , a. Attic. [Obs.]

Hammond.

Atticism <Xpage=99>

At"ti*cism (#) , n. [Gr. <?/.] 1. A favoring of, or attachment to, the Athenians.

2. The style and idiom of the Greek language, used by the Athenians; a concise and elegant expression.

Atticize <Xpage=99>

At"ti*cize (#) , v. t. [Gr. <?/.] To conform or make conformable to the language, customs, etc., of Attica.

Atticize <Xpage=99>

At"ti*cize , v. i. 1. To side with the Athenians.

2. To use the Attic idiom or style; to conform to the customs or modes of thought of the Athenians.

Attiguous <Xpage=99>

At*tig"u*ous (#) , a. [L. attiguus , fr. attingere to touch. See Attain .] Touching; bordering; contiguous. [Obs.]

-- At*tig"u*ous*ness , n. [Obs.]

Attinge <Xpage=99>

At*tinge" (#) , v. t. [L. attingere to touch. See Attain .] To touch lightly. [Obs.]

Coles.

Attire <Xpage=99>

At*tire" (#) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Attired (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Attiring .] [OE. atiren to array, dispose, arrange, OF. atirier ; \'85 (L. ad ) + F. tire rank, order, row; of Ger. origin: cf. As. tier row, OHG. ziar\'c6 , G. zier , ornament, zieren to adorn. Cf. Tire a headdress.] To dress; to array; to adorn; esp., to clothe with elegant or splendid garments.

Finely attired in a robe of white. Shak.

With the linen miter shall he be attired . Lev. xvi. 4.

Attire <Xpage=99>

At*tire" , n. 1. Dress; clothes; headdress; anything which dresses or adorns; esp., ornamental clothing.

Earth in her rich attire . Milton.

I 'll put myself in poor and mean attire . Shak.

Can a maid forget her ornament, or a bride her attire ? Jer. ii. 32.

2. The antlers, or antlers and scalp, of a stag or buck.

3. (Bot.) The internal parts of a flower, included within the calyx and the corolla. [Obs.]

Johnson.

Attired <Xpage=99>

At*tired" (#) , p. p. (Her.) Provided with antlers, as a stag.

Attirement <Xpage=99>

At*tire"ment (#) , n. Attire; adornment.

Attirer <Xpage=99>

At*tir"er (#) , n. One who attires.

Attitude <Xpage=99>

At"ti*tude (#) , n. [It. attitudine , LL. aptitudo , fr. L. aptus suited, fitted: cf. F. attitude . Cf. Aptitude .] 1. (Paint. & Sculp .) The posture, action, or disposition of a figure or a statue.

2. The posture or position of a person or an animal, or the manner in which the parts of his body are disposed; position assumed or studied to serve a purpose; as, a threatening attitude ; an attitude of entreaty.

3. Fig.: Position as indicating action, feeling, or mood; as, in times of trouble let a nation preserve a firm attitude ; one's mental attitude in respect to religion.

The attitude of the country was rapidly changing. J. R. Green.

To strike an attitude , to take an attitude for mere effect.