v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Attempted; p. pr. & vb. n. Attempting. ] [ OF. atenter, also spelt atempter, F. attenter, fr. L. attentare to attempt; ad + tentare, temptare, to touch, try, v. intens. of tendere to stretch. See Tempt, and cf. Attend. ] 1. To make trial or experiment of; to try; to endeavor to do or perform (some action); to assay; as, to attempt to sing; to attempt a bold flight. [ 1913 Webster ]

Something attempted, something done,
Has earned a night's repose. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To try to move, by entreaty, by afflictions, or by temptations; to tempt. [ Obs. or Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

It made the laughter of an afternoon
That Vivien should attempt the blameless king. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To try to win, subdue, or overcome; as, one who attempts the virtue of a woman. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further:
Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To attack; to make an effort or attack upon; to try to take by force; as, to attempt the enemy's camp. [ 1913 Webster ]

Without attempting his adversary's life. Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See Try. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To make an attempt; -- with upon. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

By his blindness maimed for high attempts. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being attempted, tried, or attacked. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who attempts; one who essays anything. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An assailant; also, a temper. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Disposed to attempt; adventurous. [ Obs. ] Daniel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. contemptus, fr. contemnere: cf. OF. contempt. See Contemn. ] 1. The act of contemning or despising; the feeling with which one regards that which is esteemed mean, vile, or worthless; disdain; scorn. [ 1913 Webster ]

Criminal contempt of public feeling. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nothing, says Longinus, can be great, the contempt of which is great. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being despised; disgrace; shame. [ 1913 Webster ]

Contempt and begarry hangs upon thy back. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An act or expression denoting contempt. [ 1913 Webster ]

Little insults and contempts. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

The contempt and anger of his lip. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) Disobedience of the rules, orders, or process of a court of justice, or of rules or orders of a legislative body; disorderly, contemptuous, or insolent language or behavior in presence of a court, tending to disturb its proceedings, or impair the respect due to its authority. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Contempt is in some jurisdictions extended so as to include publications reflecting injuriously on a court of justice, or commenting unfairly on pending proceedings; in other jurisdictions the courts are prohibited by statute or by the constitution from thus exercising this process.

Syn. -- Disdain; scorn; derision; mockery; contumely; neglect; disregard; slight. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being contemptible; contemptibleness. Speed. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Worthy of contempt; deserving of scorn or disdain; mean; vile; despicable. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The arguments of tyranny are ascontemptible as its force is dreadful. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Despised; scorned; neglected; abject. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Insolent; scornful; contemptuous. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

If she should make tender of her love, 't is very possible he 'll scorn it; for the man . . . hath a contemptible spirit. Shak.

Syn. -- Despicable; abject; vile; mean; base; paltry; worthless; sorry; pitiful; scurrile. See Contemptuous. -- Contemptible, Despicable, Pitiful, Paltry. Despicable is stronger than contemptible, as despise is stronger than contemn. It implies keen disapprobation, with a mixture of anger. A man is despicable chiefly for low actions which mark his life, such as servility, baseness, or mean adulation. A man is contemptible for mean qualities which distinguish his character, especially those which show him to be weak, foolish, or worthless. Treachery is despicable, egotism is contemptible. Pitiful and paltry are applied to cases which are beneath anger, and are simply contemptible in a high degree. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being contemptible, or of being despised. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a contemptible manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Manifesting or expressing contempt or disdain; scornful; haughty; insolent; disdainful. [ 1913 Webster ]

A proud, contemptuous behavior. Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

Savage invective and contemptuous sarcasm. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rome . . . entertained the most contemptuous opinion of the Jews. Atterbury.

Syn. -- Scornful; insolent; haughty; disdainful; supercilious; insulting; contumelious. -- Contemptuous, Contemptible. These words, from their similarity of sound, are sometimes erroneously interchanged, as when a person speaks of having “a very contemptible opinion of another.” Contemptible is applied to that which is the object of contempt; as, contemptible conduct; acontemptible fellow. Contemptuous is applied to that which indicates contempt; as, a contemptuous look; a contemptuous remark; contemptuous treatment. A person, or whatever is personal, as an action, an expression, a feeling, an opinion, may be either contemptuous or contemptible; a thing may be contemptible, but can not be contemptuous. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a contemptuous manner; with scorn or disdain; despitefully. [ 1913 Webster ]

The apostles and most eminent Christians were poor, and used contemptuously. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Disposition to or manifestion of contempt; insolence; haughtiness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL., from Gr. &unr_; beyond, after + &unr_; a falling upon, fr. &unr_; to fall in or upon; &unr_; in + &unr_; to fall. ] (Chron.) The suppression of a day in the calendar to prevent the date of the new moon being set a day too late, or the suppression of the bissextile day once in 134 years. The opposite to this is the proemptosis, or the addition of a day every 330 years, and another every 2, 400 years. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To tempt exceedingly, or beyond the power of resistance. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To attempt again. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Tempted; p. pr. & vb. n. Tempting. ] [ OE. tempten, tenten, from OF. tempter, tenter, F. tenter, fr. L. tentare, temptare, to handle, feel, attack, to try, put to the test, urge, freq. from tendere, tentum, and tensum, to stretch. See Thin, and cf. Attempt, Tend, Taunt, Tent a pavilion, Tent to probe. ] 1. To put to trial; to prove; to test; to try. [ 1913 Webster ]

God did tempt Abraham. Gen. xxii. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God. Deut. vi. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To lead, or endeavor to lead, into evil; to entice to what is wrong; to seduce. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. James i. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To endeavor to persuade; to induce; to invite; to incite; to provoke; to instigate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tempt not the brave and needy to despair. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor tempt the wrath of heaven's avenging Sire. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To endeavor to accomplish or reach; to attempt. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ere leave be given to tempt the nether skies. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To entice; allure; attract; decoy; seduce. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being temptable; lability to temptation. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being tempted; liable to be tempted. Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. temptation, tentation, F. tentation, L. tentatio. ] 1. The act of tempting, or enticing to evil; seduction. [ 1913 Webster ]

When the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. Luke iv. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being tempted, or enticed to evil. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lead us not into temptation. Luke xi. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which tempts; an inducement; an allurement, especially to something evil. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dare to be great, without a guilty crown;
View it, and lay the bright temptation down. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having no temptation or motive; as, a temptationless sin. [ R. ] Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tempting. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who tempts or entices; especially, Satan, or the Devil, regarded as the great enticer to evil. “Those who are bent to do wickedly will never want tempters to urge them on.” Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

So glozed the Tempter, and his proem tuned. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Adapted to entice or allure; attractive; alluring; seductive; enticing; as, tempting pleasures. -- Tempt"ing*ly, adv. -- Tempt"ing*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A woman who entices. [ 1913 Webster ]

She was my temptress, the foul provoker. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who does not tempt, or is not a tempter. [ Obs. ] Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

See accommodating.
See aching.
See ailing.
See aiming.
See alarming.
See altering.
See appreciating.
See approving.
See aspiring.
See assisting.
See attempting.
See attending.
See bearing.
See befitting.
See beginning.
See believing.
See bleaching.
See bleeding.
See blemishing.
See blenching.
See blossoming.
See blushing.
See boding.
See branching.
See breathing.
See burning.
See calculating.
See ceasing.
See changing.
See charming.
See communicating.
See complaining.
See complying.
See conceiving.
See conducing.
See confessing.
See conniving.
See consenting.
See considering.
See conspiring.
See consulting.
See consuming.
See contending.
See contriving.
See conversing.
See convincing.
See dawning.
See decaying.
See delaying.
See depending.
See derogating.
See deserving.
See desiring.
See despairing.
See detesting.
See deviating.
See differencing.
See discerning.
See discording.
See discriminating.
See disobliging.
See dispensing.
See dissembling.
See dissolving.
See distinguishing.
See distracting.
See disturbing.
See doubting.
See dreading.
See drooping.
See ebbing.
See echoing.
See edifying.
See ending.
See enduring.
See engaging.
See enjoying.
See entering.
See enterprising.
See entertaining.
See envying.
See existing.
See fadging.
See fading.
See fainting.
See faltering.
See fearing.
See feigning.
See fighting.
See fitting.
See flagging.
See flattering.
See flinching.
See folding.
See forbearing.
See foreboding.
See foreseeing.
See forgiving.
See giving.
See grudging.
See harming.
See heeding.
See hesitating.
See hoping.
See hurting.
See importing.
See imposing.
See improving.
See interesting.
See intermitting.
See intoxicating.
See inviting.
See jarring.
See laboring.
See lingering.
See listening.
See loving.
See meddling.
See meriting.
See mistrusting.
See moving.
See murmuring.
See obliging.
See observing.
See offending.
See opening.
See pardoning.
See paying.
See perceiving.
See performing.
See perishing.
See pitying.
See pleasing.
See possessing.
See preaching.
See prepossessing.
See presuming.
See pretending.
See prevailing.
See prevaricating.
See profiting.
See promising.
See proving.
See quailing.
See questioning.
See reasoning.
See recalling.
See reclining.
See recurring.
See referring.
See reflecting.
See refunding.
See refusing.
See rejoicing.
See relaxing.
See relishing.
See remembering.
See repenting.
See repining.
See reproving.
See repulsing.
See resisting.
See resolving.
See resting.
See returning.
See rewarding.
See sanctifying.
See satisfying.
See searching.
See seeing.
See setting.
See shrinking.
See sinking.
See sleeping.
See slipping.
See slumbering.
See speaking.
See stinting.
See stirring.
See stooping.
See submitting.
See sufficing.
See suiting.
See surging.
See suspecting.
See sweating.
See swerving.
See sympathizing.
See tasting.
See thriving.
See tiring.
See toiling.
See trading.
See trembling.
See trespassing.
See trifling.
See vacillating.
See varying.
See walking.
See wandering.
See waning.
See wasting.
See wavering.
See weeping.
See winking.
See winning.
See withdrawing.
See withering.
See wondering.
See working.
See writing.
See yielding.
----- and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The above classes of words are unlimited in extent, and such compounds may be formed by any writer or speaker at will from almost all the adjectives or participles in the language, excepting those which have a recognized and usual negative correspondent with the prefix -in. No attempt will be made, therefore, to define them all in this Dictionary; many will be omitted from its Vocabulary which are negations of the simple word, and are readily explained by prefixing a not to the latter. Derivatives of these words in -ly and -ness will also, for the most part, be omitted for the same or similar reasons. [ 1913 Webster ]

There will be inserted as separate articles with definitions, the following: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Those which have acquired an opposed or contrary, instead of a merely negative, meaning; as, unfriendly, ungraceful, unpalatable, unquiet, and the like; or else an intensive sense more than a prefixed not would express; as, unending, unparalleled, undisciplined, undoubted, unsafe, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Those which have the value of independent words, inasmuch as the simple words are either not used at all, or are rarely, or at least much less frequently, used; as, unavoidable, unconscionable, undeniable, unspeakable, unprecedented, unruly, and the like; or inasmuch as they are used in a different sense from the usual meaning of the primitive, or especially in one of the significations of the latter; as, unaccountable, unalloyed, unbelieving, unpretending, unreserved, and the like; or inasmuch as they are so frequently and familiarly used that they are hardly felt to be of negative origin; as, uncertain, uneven, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Those which are anomalous, provincial, or, for some other reason, not desirable to be used, and are so indicated; as, unpure for impure, unsatisfaction for dissatisfaction, unexpressible for inexpressible, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

II. Un- is prefixed to nouns to express the absence of, or the contrary of, that which the noun signifies; as, unbelief, unfaith, unhealth, unrest, untruth, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Compounds of this last class are given in full in their proper order in the Vocabulary. [ 1913 Webster ]