1. [n]  the act of attacking; "attacks on women increased last year"; "they made an attempt on his life"
2. [n]  earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something; "made an effort to cover all the reading material"; "wished him luck in his endeavor"; "she gave it a good try"
3. [v]  enter upon an activity or enterprise
4. [v]  make an effort or attempt; "He tried to shake off his fears"; "The infant had essayed a few wobbly steps"; "The police attempted to stop the thief"; "He sought to improve himself"; "She always seeks to do good in the world"

ATTEMPT is a 7 letter word that starts with A.

1. \At*tempt"\ (?; 215), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Attempted};
   p. pr. & vb. n. {Attempting}.] [OF. atenter, also spelt
   atempter, F. attenter, fr. L. attentare to attempt; ad +
   tentare, temptare, to touch, try, v. intens. of tendere to
   stretch. See {Tempt}, and cf. {Attend}.]
   1. To make trial or experiment of; to try; to endeavor to do
      or perform (some action); to assay; as, to attempt to
      sing; to attempt a bold flight.
            Something attempted, something done, Has earned a
            night's repose.                       --Longfellow.
   2. To try to move, by entreaty, by afflictions, or by
      temptations; to tempt. [Obs. or Archaic]
            It made the laughter of an afternoon That Vivien
            should attempt the blameless king.    --Thackeray.
   3. To try to win, subdue, or overcome; as, one who attempts
      the virtue of a woman.
            Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further: Take
            some remembrance of us, as a tribute. --Shak.
   4. To attack; to make an effort or attack upon; to try to
      take by force; as, to attempt the enemy's camp.
            Without attempting his adversary's life. --Motley.
   Syn: See {Try}.
   

2. \At*tempt"\, v. i.
   To make an attempt; -- with upon. [Obs.] --Sir T. Browne.
   

3. \At*tempt"\, n.
   A essay, trial, or endeavor; an undertaking; an attack, or an
   effort to gain a point; esp. an unsuccessful, as contrasted
   with a successful, effort.
         By his blindness maimed for high attempts. --Milton.
   {Attempt to commit a crime} (Law), such an intentional
      preparatory act as will apparently result, if not
      extrinsically hindered, in a crime which it was designed
      to effect. --Wharton.
   Syn: {Attempt}, {Endeavor}, {Effort}, {Exertion}, {Trial}.
   Usage: These words agree in the idea of calling forth our
          powers into action. Trial is the generic term; it
          denotes a putting forth of one's powers with a view to
          determine what they can accomplish; as, to make trial
          of one's strength. An attempt is always directed to
          some definite and specific object; as, ``The attempt,
          and not the deed, confounds us.'' --Shak. An endeavor
          is a continued attempt; as, ``His high endeavor and
          his glad success.'' --Cowper. Effort is a specific
          putting forth of strength in order to carry out an
          attempt. Exertion is the putting forth or active
          exercise of any faculty or power. ``It admits of all
          degrees of effort and even natural action without
          effort.'' --C. J. Smith. See {Try}.