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Added 7 October 2026

attack

/əˈtæk/ noun

In Latin: impetus, aggressiō, impugnātiō Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about attack at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons).
the attack began at dawn
An offensive move in a sport or game.
they won the game with a 10-hit attack in the 9th inning
Intense adverse criticism.
Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party

verb

Launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with.
Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II
Attack in speech or writing.
The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker
Take the initiative and go on the offensive.
The Serbs attacked the village at night

Origin

Borrowed from French attaque, derived from the verb attaquer, from Italian attaccare (“to join, attach”) (used in attaccare battaglia (“to join battle”)), from Frankish *stakkijan (“to stick, stick to, attach”). Doublet of attach. Displaced native Middle English onresen, from Old English onrǣsan (“to attack”); and Middle English resinge (“an assault, attack”) (compare Old English onrǣs (“an attack”)).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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