The word “attempted” is a commonly used term in the English language. It is often used in legal and criminal contexts, but it can also be used in everyday conversation. In this article, we will explore the definition and meaning of attempted, its origins, and its associations.
Definitions
The word “attempted” is an adjective that describes an action that was intended but not completed. It is often used in legal contexts to describe a crime that was attempted but not successfully carried out. For example, attempted murder is a crime in which someone tries to kill another person but does not succeed.
Origin
The word “attempted” comes from the Latin word “attemptare,” which means to try or attempt. The word has been used in the English language since the 15th century.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, attempted means “tried but not successful.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as “having failed to succeed in doing something.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “tried to do something, but did not succeed.”
Associations
The word “attempted” is often associated with criminal activity. For example, attempted murder, attempted robbery, and attempted burglary are all crimes that involve an intent to commit a crime but not actually carrying it out. However, the word can also be used in a non-criminal context. For example, attempted to climb a mountain or attempted to learn a new language.
Synonyms
Synonyms of attempted include tried, unsuccessful, incomplete, and unsuccessful.
Antonyms
Antonyms of attempted include successful, accomplished, completed, and achieved.
The same root words
The word “attempted” is derived from the Latin word “attemptare,” which means to try or attempt. Other words that share the same root include attempt, tempt, and temptress.
Example Sentences
- The attempted robbery was thwarted by the quick thinking of the store clerk.
- He attempted to climb Mount Everest but had to turn back due to bad weather.
- She attempted to bake a cake from scratch but it didn’t turn out very well.
- The attempted coup was unsuccessful and the government remained in power.