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ting one's self to anything definite. The Heroic Stanzas read much more like an elaborate attempt to hedge between the parties than . . . to gain favor from the Roundheads. Saintsbury.

A lock in which a close grip is obtained and a fall attempted by a heave over the hip.

s and inscriptions are extant. Authorities are not agreed as to their race. While several attempts have been made to decipher the Hittite characters, little progress has yet been made.

A game in which two parties of players, armed with sticks curved or hooked at the end, attempt to drive any small object (as a ball or a bit of wood) toward opposite goals.

d a marked heightening of reflex excitability, producing convulsions whenever the patient attempts to swallow, or is disturbed in any way, as by the sight or sound of water; rabies; canine madness. [Written also hydrophoby.]

Done, attempted, or said, at an unsuitable or unpropitious time.

To bring about, arrange, or make, on a sudden, or without previous preparation. Charles attempted to improvise a peace. Motley.

which rouses or prompts; incitement; motive; incentive. The noblest incitation to honest attempts. Tatler.

ecoming; improper; out of place; as, indecorous conduct. It was useless and indecorous to attempt anything more by mere struggle. Burke.

ffect; without effect; inefficient; weak; useless; futile; unavailing; as, an ineffectual attempt; an ineffectual expedient. Pope. The peony root has been much commended, . . . and yet has been by many found ineffectual. Boyle.

er by introducing something new; to remodel; to revolutionize. [Archaic] Burton. From his attempts upon the civil power, he proceeds to innovate God's worship. South.

aracterized by insanity or the utmost folly; chimerical; unpractical; as, an insane plan, attempt, etc. I know not which was the insane measure. Southey.

s. Institutes of medicine, theoretical medicine; that department of medical science which attempts to account philosophically for the various phenomena of health as well as of disease; physiology applied to the practice of medicine. Dunglison.

nd; to tire or wear out by severe or tedious tasks; to harass. The mind, once jaded by an attempt above its power, . . . checks at any vigorous undertaking ever after. Locke.

An effort; an attempt; a venture. [Obs.] Our fortune lies Upon thisjump. Shak.

carry to another place. Abbott. You may reason or expostulate with the parents, but never attempt to kidnap their children, and to make proselytes of them. Whately.

ence; -- an axiom of some political economists, deprecating interference of government by attempts to foster or regulate commerce, manufactures, etc., by bounty or by restriction; as, the doctrine of laissez faire; the laissez faire system government.

To assay, or attempt, improperly or unsuccessfully. [Obs.] W. Browne.

To fail or err in attempting to correct. "Scaliger miscorrects his author." Dryden.

To relate, classify, and explain, or attempt to explain, myths; to write upon myths.