ATTEMPTING
Verb
attempting
present participle of attempt
Source: Wiktionary
ATTEMPT
At*tempt", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attempted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Attempting.] Etym: [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.
Something attempted, something done, Has earned a night's repose.
Longfellow.
2. To try to move, by entreaty, by afflictions, or by temptations; to
tempt. [Obs. or Archaic]
It made the laughter of an afternoon That Vivien should attempt the
blameless king. Thackeray.
3. To try to win, subdue, or overcome; as, one who attempts the
virtue of a woman.
Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further: Take some remembrance
of us, as a tribute. Shak.
4. To attack; to make an effort or attack upon; to try to take by
force; as, to attempt the enemy's camp.
Without attempting his adversary's life. Motley.
Syn.
– See Try.
At*tempt", v. i.
Definition: To make an attempt; -- with upon. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
At*tempt", n.
Definition: 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition