attenter

to make an attempt on

verb ah-tahn-TEH Rare

Origin: from attenter à, from Latin attentare (to attempt)

Also means

to commit an attack against

Usage Note

Attenter is almost exclusively used in the construction attenter à followed by an abstract noun: attenter à la vie de quelqu'un (to attempt someone's life), attenter à la liberté (to infringe on freedom). It is a formal and legal register verb; everyday speech would use attaquer or porter atteinte à. The related noun attentat (terrorist attack) is far more common in daily news.

Examples

"Il a voulu attenter à la vie du président."

Natural Translation

He wanted to make an attempt on the president's life.

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