Attempt, 1) enterprise, undertaking: “I see what crosses my a. will bring,” Lucr. 491. “give over this a.” As I, 2, 190. “a man may stagger in this a.” III, 3, 49. “impossible be strange --s to those that weigh their pains in sense,” All's I, 1, 239. I, 3, 260. III, 6, 71. Merch. IV, 1, 350. Tw. III, 2, 31. R3 III, 5, 49. Cor. V, 3, 146. Tit. III, 1, 50. Oth. IV, 2, 245. Opposed to a performed deed: “the a. and not the deed confounds us,” Mcb. II, 2, 11. Especially a warlike enterprise: “I will not return till my a. so much be glorified,” John V, 2, 111. H4A IV, 1, 61. H4B IV, 1, 15. IV, 2, 45. H6A II, 5, 79. H6C IV, 2, 26. R3 IV, 4, 236 (Ff success). 398 (Ff affairs). V, 3, 265. Mcb. III, 6, 39. Oth. I, 3, 29. Figuratively: “this a. I am soldier to,” Cymb. III, 4, 186. An attack on the chastity of a woman: “the maid will I frame and make fit for his a.” Meas. III, 1, 267. Cymb. I, 4, 126. Cymb. I, 4, 126 See also Lucr. 491.
2) pursuit: “such low desires, such poor, such bare, such lewd, such mean --s,” H4A III, 2, 13. “one incorporate to our --s,” Caes. I, 3, 136.
Shakespeare Lexicon. Alexander Schmidt. Berlin. Georg Reimer. 1902.
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