Meaning

verb launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with

verb attack in speech or writing

verb take the initiative and go on the offensive

originEtymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Italian a- Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is- Proto-Italic *dis- Latin dis- Old French des- Proto-Indo-European *(s)teyg- Proto-Germanic *stikaną Proto-West Germanic *stekander. Old French atachier Old French destachier Middle French destacherbor. Italian distaccare Italian staccare Italian…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0