attempt

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂éd
2. Proto-Italic*ad
3. Proto-Italic*ad-
4. Latinad-
5. Latintemptō
6. Latinattemptō
7. Old Frenchatempter
8. Middle Englishattempten
9. English todayattempt

Late 14th century, as Middle English attempten, from Old French atempter, from Latin attemptō (“to try, solicit”), from ad- (“to”) + temptō; see tempt. The noun is from the 1530s, the sense "an assault on somebody's life, assassination attempt" (French attentat) is from 1580. By surface analysis, at- + tempt.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• 1530 The action of trying at something.
• 1580 An assault or attack, especially an assassination attempt.