Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Attack
At-tack′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Attacked
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Attacking
.] 1.
To fall upon with force; to assail, as with force and arms; to assault.
“Attack their lines.” Dryden.
2.
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 pamphlet3.
To set to work upon, as upon a task or problem, or some object of labor or investigation.
4.
To begin to affect; to begin to act upon, injuriously or destructively; to begin to decompose or waste.
On the fourth of March he was
attacked
by fever. Macaulay.
Hydrofluoric acid . . .
attacks
the glass. B. Stewart.
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.
At-tack′
,Verb.
I.
To make an onset or attack.
At-tack′
,Noun.
[Cf. F.
attaque
.] 1.
The act of attacking, or falling on with force or violence; an onset; an assault; – opposed to
defense
. 2.
An assault upon one’s feelings or reputation with unfriendly or bitter words.
3.
A setting to work upon some task, etc.
4.
An access of disease; a fit of sickness.
5.
The beginning of corrosive, decomposing, or destructive action, by a chemical agent.
Webster 1828 Edition
Attack
ATTACK'
, v.t [Heb. to thrust, to drive, to strike.1.
To assault; to fall upon with force; to assail, as with force and arms. It is the appropriate word for the commencing act of hostility between armies and navies.2.
To fall upon, with unfriendly words or writing; to begin a controversy with; to attempt to overthrow or bring into disrepute, by satire, calumny or criticism; as, to attack a man or his opinions in a pamphlet.ATTACK'
,Noun.