An attack or onset of disease or other misfortune. In Old English perhaps: spec. †a swelling (obsolete). Now: spec. (Scottish) a sudden cold or fever.

Something harmful that comes upon a person, esp. as a calamity or affliction; spec. an attack of disease or an illness. Now rare (chiefly Scottish).

Of things. (Cf. visit, v. 10c.)

The action, on the part of an army, of investing a town, castle, etc., in order to cut off all outside communication and in the end to reduce or take…

transferred and figurative. Hostile approach, attack, onset.

The fact of some violent or destructive agency or force coming or falling upon a people, country, etc.

Hostile onset, attack, assault.

In extended use: an attack; spec. a fierce criticism or counter-argument; a sudden attack of pain, fever, etc. Also figurative.

The action of assail, v.1 (in various senses); assault, attack; an instance of this.

‘An act of hostility’ (Johnson). Usually in plural blows = ‘combat, fighting, war’, in the phrases to be at blows, come (or go), fall, get to blows…

An act, or the action, of attacking or assailing; attack, assault, onset (literal and figurative). archaic.

An effort to accomplish an object by force or violence. figurative. Obsolete.

An instance of being afflicted, esp. suddenly, by a disease or other disorder; a short bout or episode of an incapacitating physical or mental…

The action of attacking or assailing; assault, attack. Also: a system of attack, skill in attacking; an attacking army, etc. (also figurative). arms…

A sudden attack of illness, esp. a fit of apoplexy or epilepsy. Also, a sudden visitation (of calamity).