attach To attach (from L. ad, to, + Bret. tach, nail) is primarily to cause one thing to hold securely to another as by a nail; thence the meaning is extended to include any other means of secure connection, as by a cord, etc.; a handle is attached to a valise, a hook to a fishing-line, a bayonet to a gun; a plant is attached to the ground by its roots. We commonly speak of attaching the less to the greater, the subordinate to the principal, the final to the preliminary, the particular to the general, the movable to the permanent, etc.; we attach a nozle to a hose, a hose to a faucet or a hydrant; a barnacle attaches itself to a ship. In some cases we may speak of either of two objects as attached to the other, according to our 'point of view; we may say that the hilt of the sword is attached to the blade or the blade to the hilt; or, two or more objects may be spoken of as attached to each other or to one another. In official relations an officer is said to be attached to a regiment, a ship, an expedition, or the like, a secretary to an embassy, etc. In legal use a person or property that is attached is viewed as bound and held by the bond of the law. In mental, moral, and spiritual relations we attach a certain meaning to a word, or significance to an action; we attach importance to a discovery; one may be attached to a party by custom, association, or self-interest, or by sympathy, principle, or patriotism; a person is attached to another or to others by affection. To fasten (from AS. fæstnian, fasten) is to make fast, as one object to another; as, to fasten a door by a bolt; to fasten a glove by a button; to fasten boards together with nails or screws; figuratively, to cause to adhere by any means or agency; as, to fasten a quarrel, a reproach, a nickname, etc., upon any one. In the physical sense, attach and fasten are close synonyms, and often used interchangeably; that which is attached or fastened may have considerable freedom of movement, provided the connection be secure; as, a boat is attached or fastened to the wharf by a mooring-line; yet, even here, there are differences of usage; we say that a muscle attachment is attached (rather than fastened) to a bone by a tendon; a horse is fastened to a post by a strap or rope; he is attached to the vehicle by the harness; in either case we may use the plain Old English verb hitch, which is applied especially to a temporary fastening; we may also speak of the horse as tied to the post, but not to the load; a door is attached to the door-post by hinges; it is fastened at the opposite side by a bolt or lock; we attach or fasten papers to each other by paste, mucilage, or the like (in which case we may be said to stick them together-compare ADHESIVE), or by clips or by other metallic devices known as "paper-fasteners," or by rubber bands, etc.; yet here appears a difference of usage; we may fasten the papers together temporarily, simply to keep them from being scattered, but those which are attached are viewed as having some definite relation to each other; as, "See depositions attached.” We may fasten or attach objects by binding or tying. See BIND. To join is to bring together, bring into close contact, adhesion, conjunction, or cooperation; as, to join hands, fortunes, forces, estates, etc.; if one building is joined to another the two are built against or into each other; unite is a close synonym for join, but of fuller meaning; in the physical sense things are united which are joined so as to form one concordant whole, to adhere closely together, to exist or act as one; figuratively, things are united which are joined in close and harmonious relation, as by legal, marital, social, or other tie, by interest, affection, fellowship, or the like; as, to unite nations by treaty, to unite hearts in love, to unite courage with fortitude; persons are joined or united in marriage, unite having the fuller and nobler meaning. To connect (from L. con, together, +necto, bind, tie) is to join as by links or fastenings; to bring into close relation, especially by some intervening means or agency; as, two buildings are connected by a subway, or two oceans by a strait; thence connect is extended in meaning to denote numerous forms of close relationship, as by origin, derivation, significance, association of ideas, classification, causation, consequence, etc.; in the scheme of the solar system, the moon is connected with the earth, though it is not attached, fastened, or joined tc, or united with it; a word is connected with another by derivation from the same root; two words are con attachment nected in meaning where each expresses some part of the meaning conveyed by the other; two thoughts, feelings, or ideas are connected when the one suggests the other, or when both are suggested by the same object; as the idea of food is connected with the sensation of hunger, the sound of a crash with the idea of a falling object, etc.; two wires that merely touch are mechanically disconnected, as either may be freely drawn away from the other; but they are electrically connected (forming what is called a "loose connection"), as affording a means by which an electric current may pass from one to another. Connect is a word of looser, less vigorous and intimate meaning than attach, join, or unite; husband and wife are joined or united (not connected) in marriage; their two families, or any members of either are connected by that marriage; attached could not be used in either sense; so we speak of persons as distantly connected (or related), or of one as a distant connection (or relation, relative, or kinsman) of another. Compare ADD; APPEND; APPLY; ASSOCIATE; BIND; FIX. ANTONYMS: disjoin disunite divorce separate disconnect dissociate divert remove sever alienate discard detach PREPOSITIONS: Attach to the document at the bottom with mucilage; attached by ligaments, by a cord, a halter, or the like; in legal usage, attach for a debt, etc. (anciently of high treason); loss or blame may attach on or upon. Attachment, in the sense here considered, is a feeling that binds a person by ties of heart to another person or thing; we speak of a man's adherence to his purpose, his adhesion to his party, or to anything to which he clings tenaciously, though with no special tenderness; of his attachment to his church, to the old homestead, or to any persons or objects that he may hold dear. Affection expresses more warmth of feeling; we attain should not speak of a mother's attachment to her babe, but of her affection or of her devotion. Inclination expresses simply a tendency, which may be good or bad, yielded to or overcome; as, an inclination to study; an inclination to drink. Affinity is an instinctive drawing, inclination, liking, or friendliness founded upon some correspondence of nature; as in chemistry, affinity does not involve likeness, so, in spiritual relations, affinity may be between opposite natures or qualities, between which there is no inherent contradiction, each supplying some lack in the other; there may be affinity between the brave and the timid, between the martial courage of the soldier and the moral courage of the statesman, but not between courage and cowardice, nor between virtue and vice; the brave, true, and good of to-day have affinity with the brave, true, and good of all the ages past; affinity, which is capable of the highest meaning, is now often popularly used, in a degraded sense, of a supposedly irresistible attraction between two persons of opposite sex, outside the bounds of marriage or propriety; by a usage little removed from slang, either of such persons is said to be the other's affinity. Regard is more distant than affection or attachment, but closer and warmer than esteem; we speak of high esteem, kind regard. Compare ACQUAINTANCE; APPENDAGE; FRIENDSHIP; LOVE; UNION. Attachment of a true man to his friends; attachment to a leader for his nobility of character; the attachments between two persons or things; attachment by muscular fibers, or by a rope, etc. To attack is to begin hostilities of any kind. A general invades a country by marching in troops; he attacks a city by drawing up an army against it; he assaults it by hurling hy troops directly upon its defenses. Assail and assault, though ol attain the same original etymology, have diverged in meaning, so that assault alone retains the meaning of direct personal violence. One may assail another with reproaches; he assaults him with a blow, a brandished weapon, etc. Armies or squadrons charge; combat and encounter may be said of individual contests. To beset is to set around, or, so to speak, to stud one's path, with menaces, attacks, or persuasions. To besiege and beleaguer are the acts of armies. To encounter is to meet face to face, and may be said either of the attacking or of the resisting force or person, or of both. We were attacked by the enemy with cannon and musketry. An attack may be by word; an aggression is always by deed. An assault may be upon the person, an aggression is upon rights, possessions, etc. An invasion of a nation's territories is an act of aggression; an intrusion upon a neighboring estate is a trespass. Onslaught signifies intensely violent assault, as by an army or a desperado, though it is sometimes used of violent speech. ANTONYMS: defense repulsion resistance retreat submission PREPOSITIONS: The enemy made an attack upon (or on) our works. surrender A person may obtain a situation by the intercession of friends, he procures a dinner by paying for it. Attain is a lofty word, pointing to some high or desirable result; a man 127962A |