GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 4 definitions

1.       
   ‖Appel , n. [F., prop., a call. See Appeal, n.] (Fencing) A tap or stamp of the foot as a warning of intent to attack; -- called also attack.
   Webster 1913 Suppl.
         
       

2.       
   Attack , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attacked ; p. pr. & vb. n. Attacking.] [F. attaquer, orig. another form of attacher to attack: cf. It. attacare to fasten, attack. See Attach, Tack a small nail.]
   To fall upon with force; to assail, as with force and arms; to assault. “Attack their lines.”  
   Dryden.
   
   1913 Webster
   To assail with unfriendly speech or writing; to begin a controversy with; to attempt to overthrow or bring into disrepute, by criticism or satire; to censure; as, to attack a man, or his opinions, in a pamphlet.
   1913 Webster
   To set to work upon, as upon a task or problem, or some object of labor or investigation.
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   To begin to affect; to begin to act upon, injuriously or destructively; to begin to decompose or waste.
   1913 Webster
   On the fourth of March he was attacked by fever.
   Macaulay.
   
   1913 Webster
   Hydrofluoric acid . . . attacks the glass.
   B. Stewart.
   
   1913 Webster
   Syn. -- To Attack, Assail, Assault, Invade.  These words all denote a violent onset; attack being the generic term, and the others specific forms of attack. To attack is to commence the onset; to assail is to make a sudden and violent attack, or to make repeated attacks; to assault (literally, to leap upon) is to attack physically by a had-to-hand approach or by unlawful and insulting violence; to invade is to enter by force on what belongs to another. Thus, a person may attack by offering violence of any kind; he may assail by means of missile weapons; he may assault by direct personal violence; a king may invade by marching an army into a country.  Figuratively, we may say, men attack with argument or satire; they assail with abuse or reproaches; they may be assaulted by severe temptations; the rights of the people may be invaded by the encroachments of the crown.
   1913 Webster
   
         
       

3.       
   Attack, v. i. To make an onset or attack.
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4.       
   Attack, n. [Cf. F. attaque.]
   The act of attacking, or falling on with force or violence; an onset; an assault; -- opposed to defense.
   1913 Webster
   An assault upon one's feelings or reputation with unfriendly or bitter words.
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   A setting to work upon some task, etc.
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   An access of disease; a fit of sickness.
   1913 Webster
   The beginning of corrosive, decomposing, or destructive action, by a chemical agent.
   1913 Webster