Also 7 attaque, attacque. [f. the vb., or a. F. attaque: cf. It. attacco. (Not in Shaks., Cotgrave, Cockeram: once in Milton.)]
1. The act of falling upon with force or arms, of commencing battle; an offensive operation: an onset, an assault. The common military term; opposed to defence.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 248. The dire attack Of fighting Seraphim.
1678. Butler, Hud., III. i. 1084. And bravely scorn to turn their backs Upon the desperatest attacks.
1693. Mem. Count Teckely, I. 41. The Grand Vizier endeavoured to maintain the Attacques.
1703. Lond. Gaz., No. 3913/2. The Enemy … made a Salley out of the Town against Major General Dedem’s Attack.
1789. Bentham, Princ. Legisl., xiii. § 2. To compare the means of attack and defence.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., v. I. 601. Monmouth … conceived that a night attack might be attended with success.
b. ellipt. for: Point of attack, attacking force.
1709. Luttrell, Brief Rel., VI. 460. All the cannon … will begin to play as to morrow from the 3 several attacks.
2. fig. The offensive part in any contest or match; e.g., the bowling in Cricket, a move directed to gain a point in Chess, etc.
1822. Burrowes, Cycl., III. 345/2. It is not always necessary in the attack to have them [queen and rook] near the adversary’s king.
1871. M. Collins, Mrq. & Merch., II. x. 294. [He] taught her the Mortimer attack in the Evans gambit.
1882. Daily Tel., 19 May (Cricket). Spofforth and Palmer being entrusted with the attack.
3. An assault with hostile or bitter words, or action intended to overthrow, injure or defame.
1751. Johnson, Rambl., No. 144, ¶ 2. The attack upon a rising character.
1804. Mar. Edgeworth, Mod. Griselda, x. Wks. 1832, XI. 320. Griselda … established herself upon a couch, and began an attack upon Emma.
1850. Lynch, Theo. Trin., ix. 169. Some who have braved with forehead of flint public attack.
1876. Green, Short Hist., v. § 2 (1882), 227. The knights of the shire united with the burgesses in a joint attack on the royal council.
4. fig. The commencing of operations in order to perform any difficult work. So, jocularly, upon dinner, viands, etc.; cf. 6.
1812. Combe (Dr. Syntax), Pictur., XVII. 62. The Doctor then pronounced the grace … The fierce attack was soon begun.
1874. Furnivall, Rep. E. Eng. Text Soc., 26. The attack [of the Society] is weakest at the farthest point, Anglo-Saxon.
1875. Times, 20 April, 5/5. The Committee of the Royal Society laid so much stress upon this part of the attack that no less than three instruments were devoted to it by the Siam party alone.
5. An invasion or access of disease; a fit or bout of illness.
1811. Hooper, Med. Dict., s.v. Asthma, Its attacks are most frequent during the heats of summer.
1878. Seeley, Stein, III. 543. He suffered from attacks of overpowering giddiness.
6. The commencement of destructive or dissolving action by any physical agent.
1842. Penny Cycl., XXIV. 224/1. The attacks of this animal [Teredo] upon piles.
1871. Tyndall, Fragm. Sc., viii. § 7. 187. To … initiate the attack of the oxygen.
