Etymology || Etymology of the phrasal verb "have at"?
What is the etymology of the phrasal verb "have at"? Why "have at" means attack? 'What is being had' and what is the meaning of 'at' here?
The phrasal verb "have at" is believed to have originated in Middle English, where "at" meant "to" or "toward." The word "have" in this context means "to take hold of" or "to seize."
Over time, "have at" came to mean "to make an attack on" or "to assail vigorously." The phrase is commonly used in the sense of making a physical or verbal attack, as in "He had at me with his fists" or "She had at him with a barrage of insults."
The use of "at" in this context suggests the direction or target of the attack. The attacker is directing their force or energy toward the thing or person being attacked. "What is being had" in this case is the object of the attack.
Overall, the etymology of "have at" suggests a sense of seizing or taking hold of something, and directing an attack or assault toward it.
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