attack

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To use violence against someone or something.

   The dog attacked the postman without warning.

2. 2
   noun

   A violent attempt to hurt or damage someone or something.

   The attack on the village began at dawn.

3. 3
   noun

   Strong criticism in speech or writing.

   The newspaper published a fierce attack on the government.

4. 4
   noun

   A sudden short period of an illness or feeling.

   She had a panic attack before the exam.

5. 5
   verb

   To start dealing with a task with energy and determination.

   I attacked the pile of homework as soon as I got home.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Attack comes from French attaquer, which derives from Italian attaccare, “join battle.” Its base is a Germanic element shared with attach, and carries the underlying idea of joining.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Italian a- Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is- Proto-Italic *dis- Latin dis- Old French des- Proto-Indo-European *(s)teyg- Proto-Germanic *stikaną Proto-West Germanic *stekander. Old French atachier Old French destachier Middle French destacherbor. Italian distaccare Italian staccare Italian attaccarebor. French attaquer French attaquebor. English attack Borrowed from French attaque, derived from the verb attaquer, from Italian attaccare (“to join, attach”) (used in attaccare battaglia (“t…

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary