at|tach´a|ble

at|tach «uh TACH», transitive verb.

1. to fix in place; fasten (to): »

The boy attached a rope to his sled.

2. to join to a person, group, or organization: »

The lost dog attached itself to the boy walking home from school.

3. to add at the end; affix: »

The signers attached their names to the Constitution.

4. a) to connect with, especially for duty; assign: »

He was attached as mate to the ship “Clio.”

b) to assign, connect, or allocate (a military unit, soldiers, or equipment) temporarily to an organization or commander.

5. to bind by affection; join by sympathy: »

She is very much attached to her cousin.

6. to give to; regard as belonging; attribute: »

He attached great importance to rockets.

7. to take and hold (a person or property) by order of a court of law: »

If you owe money to a man, he can attach part of your salary unless you pay him.

SYNONYM(S): confiscate.

8. Obsolete. to fall upon; attack.

–v.i.

1. to fasten itself; belong: »

The blame for this accident attaches to the man who destroyed the signal.

2. to be associated as a circumstance or incident; belong: »

the advantages which attach to wealth.

╂[< Old French atachier < a- to + Germanic source of Old French tache a fastening, nail. See related etym. at tack. (Cf. ↑tack)]

–at|tach´a|ble, adjective.

Synonym Study transitive verb. 1 Attach, affix mean to add one thing to another. Attach is the general word and suggests only joining or fastening one thing to another by some means: »

I attached a trailer to the car.

Affix is a more formal word and often suggests putting something smaller or less important on another firmly and permanently: »

With each new state, a star is affixed to the flag.

at|ta|ché «_AT uh SHAY; especially British uh TASH ay», noun.

a person on the official staff of an ambassador or minister to a foreign country: »

a press attaché.

╂[< French attaché, originally past participle of attacher, in Old French atachier attach]