attach

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Attached p. pr. & vb. n. Attaching. ] [ OF. atachier, F. attacher, to tie or fasten: cf. Celt. tac, tach, nail, E. tack a small nail, tack to fasten. Cf. Attack, and see Tack. ] 1. To bind, fasten, tie, or connect; to make fast or join; as, to attach one thing to another by a string, by glue, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The shoulder blade is . . . attached only to the muscles. Paley. [ 1913 Webster ]

A huge stone to which the cable was attached. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To connect; to place so as to belong; to assign by authority; to appoint; as, an officer is attached to a certain regiment, company, or ship. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To win the heart of; to connect by ties of love or self-interest; to attract; to fasten or bind by moral influence; -- with to; as, attached to a friend; attaching others to us by wealth or flattery. [ 1913 Webster ]

Incapable of attaching a sensible man. Miss Austen. [ 1913 Webster ]

God . . . by various ties attaches man to man. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To connect, in a figurative sense; to ascribe or attribute; to affix; -- with to; as, to attach great importance to a particular circumstance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Top this treasure a curse is attached. Bayard Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To take, seize, or lay hold of. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To take by legal authority: (a) To arrest by writ, and bring before a court, as to answer for a debt, or a contempt; -- applied to a taking of the person by a civil process; being now rarely used for the arrest of a criminal. (b) To seize or take (goods or real estate) by virtue of a writ or precept to hold the same to satisfy a judgment which may be rendered in the suit. See Attachment, 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

The earl marshal attached Gloucester for high treason. Miss Yonge. [ 1913 Webster ]

Attached column (Arch.), a column engaged in a wall, so that only a part of its circumference projects from it. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To affix; bind; tie; fasten; connect; conjoin; subjoin; annex; append; win; gain over; conciliate. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To adhere; to be attached. [ 1913 Webster ]

The great interest which attaches to the mere knowledge of these facts cannot be doubted. Brougham. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To come into legal operation in connection with anything; to vest; as, dower will attach. Cooley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being attached; esp., liable to be taken by writ or precept. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F., p. p. of attacher. See Attach, v. t. ] One attached to another person or thing, as a part of a suite or staff. Specifically: One attached to an embassy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A flat, rectangular, usually rigid briefcase commonly used to carry documents for business purposes. [ PJC ]

adj. 1. fastened together. a picnic table with attached benches [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. being joined in close association; -- of people or organizations.
Syn. -- affiliated, connected [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. fastened onto another object; -- of objects smaller than the main object. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

4. (Architecture) connected by a common wall or passageway; -- used of buildings. detached [ WordNet 1.5 ]

5. (Biology) permanently attached to a substrate; not free to move about. an attached oyster vagile
Syn. -- sessile [ WordNet 1.5 ]

6. associated in an exclusive sexual relationship; -- opposite of unattached. Narrower terms include: affianced, bespoken, betrothed, engaged, pledged, promised(predicate); married. Also See: loving.
Syn. -- committed. [ WordNet 1.5 ]