Attempted the river

Question

The enemy pressing furiously, many of the infantry and the whole body of cavalry, attempted the river. The ice gave way, and not fewer than two thousand were swallowed up in the water.

I'd like to know why the author used "attempted the river," not "attempted to cross the river."
Thank you in advance for your help.

Blue Jay · Accepted Answer

This is a usage of attempt that is correct, but is not often seen today. Attempt can mean to (try to) overcome an obstacle or to climb (a mountain).
The horse refused to attempt the fence.
The climbers decided to attempt the north-east face of the mountain.
The writing style of this passage suggests that it was written a century or two ago. Nowadays we would be more likely to say attempted to cross the river, as you suggest.

Fivejedjon · Answer

Blue JayThe writing style of this passage suggests that it was written a century or two ago.

Wilson, James, Biography of the Blind, 1821-1838

AlpheccaStars · Answer

park sang joonI'd like to know why the author used "attempted the river," not "attempted to cross the river."

English, like all languages, evolves over time.

Every year, words' meanings change, styles change. Some words die away, new words are invented.
The changes are nearly imperceptible over a period of a year; they are detectable over a decade; they are obvious over a century.
After a millennium, the language might be barely intelligible.

If you read a text that was written more than a century ago, you will need a good dictionary that gives historical meanings.

Attempted the river

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