Middle English Dictionary Entry
attempten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | attempten v. Also attempen, attent, (?error) attamyn. Ppl. attempted, attempt. |
| Etymology | OF attempter, atenter & L attemptāre. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To seek or try to do (sth.); venture upon or attempt (an action), seek (friendship); (b) venture or try (to do sth.).
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.1419 : What man wolde his lecherie Attempte upon hire maidenhede.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)180 : Foreyn Empryses which that be terryble, Attempte hem nat.
- c1450 *Assem.Bk.1 Gild St.Geo.Norwich (Nrw-CMus)f.189 : To attemp' or to do..the contrary of any of these appoyntmentes.
- (1458) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2 p.77 : We..charge you..that the contrarie of this our writing ye ner non of your attempte.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.197 : That he scholde attempte [Trev.: assaie]..the frendeschippe of the Romanes raþer then batelle ageyne theyme.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7035 : I bidde þat ȝe..in no wyse..Attempteþ nat..Be signe or worde more for to dispise Þembassatours.
- (1425) Proc.Privy C.3.175 : He ne shal in no wyse attempte to procede by wey of feet ayenst..any of þe said lordes.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.50/14 : The spirite of malice..hadde Atemptid to drawe here to consente of vnclennesse.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.2057 : For thei wer bold tattempten or tattame To trete off mater reboundyng to hir shame.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)115 : Whoo so euere..Dar attempte..The kynges Ryght..To interupte.
- (1449) Proc.Privy C.6.78 : It ne were nor is lawfull..ayeinst whome it were so attemptid..to committe and offende þe trewe.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.52 : We schal attempten and assay..Þat swollen sorwe for to put away.
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)1063 : Non was so hardy To attempte to do ony trespace.
- (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)111 : Summe clerkis attempten and assaien forto calle [etc.].
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)63.37 (v.1:p.392) : He durst nat attamyn [?read: attempen] to bryngen vp any new custome in his peple withoute the advise of othir.
- c1475(1459) Pros.Yorkists in EHR 26 (Roy 17.D.15)517 : [He] hathe the thirde tyme attemted..to accomplesshe his pernysious entent.
2.
(a) To undertake or do (sth.); law ~ accioun, ple, take legal action, bring suit; (b) of the moon: to take care (of the night).
Associated quotations
a
- (1451) Paston2.241 : Ye proposed yow, be the trust that ye have in hym, for to atempte and rere accions that shuld be to the avayle of hym.
- (1475) Doc.Finchale in Sur.Soc.637 : In the mater of plee newly attempt in the Consistory of Duresme..against me and my brether.
- a1500(a1471) Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)65 : That no thing be attempted which might turne to the breche of oure paix.
b
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)102 : God ordand then grett lyghtys two..The moyr be for the day to go And the lesse to the nyȝt at attent.
3.
(a) To assail or attack (sth.); ?to prevail against; ~ ayeins; (b) transgress against, infringe upon; offend, violate; ~ ayeins.
Associated quotations
a
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.1036 : Nouther heuenli goddis no Fortune..Wer bothe vnhardy tatempte ageyn his myht.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)254 : Who euer attempte aȝens the seid vce of ymagis.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)59/16 : Þer is none so stronge..that may availe bi force to atempte your worþines.
- (1452) Paston2.272 : That thei..shuld not be hardy to attempt ne lette the purposyd malyce of the seid Cherche.
b
- (1425) RParl.4.312a : I am bounde to ye pes..ye which surete I purpose never to atempte nor breke.
- (1448) Shillingford68 : We wold attempte hym yn no wyse.
- c1450(?c1400) 3 KCol.(1) (Cmb Ee.4.32)116/10 : Ȝif any man wolde aryse or attempt..aȝens þe lawe of god.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)683/22 : Yf hit happened to be attempted..knowyngly or ignorantly.
- a1500(1449) Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)101 : If eny personne presume t'attempte to the contrarie of the premisses.
4.
(a) To try out or test (sth.), put (sb.) on trial; (b) to tempt (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.4751 : Men sholde attempte no maner creature, A[nd] namli women, ther meeknesse for to preue.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.1009 : For tatempte of goddis the poweer..He took a ryng of gold [etc.].
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)443 : We ouȝte not..leue þe meenys of kynde..for þat were not but attemtyng þee [God] to worche wiþoute neede about kynde.
- c1450 Lydg.SSecr.Ctn.(Sln 2464)2516 : How they hadde attemptyd [vr. attempte] the science Off wyse philomon.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)39/28 : Þat we forbere to attempte or assaie goddis myȝt, wijsdom, or wil.
b
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)73/8 : Hij ne weren atempted ne adrad.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)1555 : A wykede spirite..þat come þedur to a-tempte þat may.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)88/25 : Sodanlie he was attempyd with his flessh, and onone..he went oute of his monasterie ij dayes in-to wyldernes & made hys prayer.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)64/19 : By that maner he wold attempe hym.
- a1500 St.Anne(3) (Tan 407)406 : Ȝif þe deuel had wyst þat he had be goddes sone, he durst nought atempte hym.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2505 : Despise nat ne attempte nat the myght of youre aduersarie so lite, that ye lete the kepyng of youre persone for youre presumpcioun.
Note: Mod. gloss 4.(b)