Etymology 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.
1
To try.
to attempt an escape from prison
I attempted to sing, but my throat was too hoarse.
4 more examples
A group of 80 budding mountaineers attempted Kilimanjaro, but 30 of them didn’t make it to the top.
Although it's hard to get right, please attempt to do so.
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:
2
Obsolete To try to move, by entreaty, by afflictions, or by temptations; to tempt.
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):
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:
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]:
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 life1830, John Motley, The Rise of the Dutch Republic:
5
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:
Etymology 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.
1
The action of trying at something.
We made an attempt to cross the stream, but didn’t manage.
This poem is much better than the feeble attempt of mine.
3 more examples
It was worth the attempt.
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 sea2012 March 23, 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
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.