Attachment refers to the act of attaching or being attached; it can denote a legal relationship, an emotional bond, or an element fastened to something. In psychology and everyday use, it often describes a strong, enduring bond between people or objects, or a file or document appended to an email. The term carries connotations of connection, security, and proximity.
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"The attachment to his childhood home remained strong despite years away."
"Please review the attachment before sending the email to ensure accuracy."
"She formed a close emotional attachment to her mentor."
"The device’s attachment could be loosened with a simple screwdriver."
Attachment comes from the French attaché, via Medieval Latin attachare, from the Latin ad- ‘toward’ + tenere ‘to hold.’ The noun sense of ‘something that attaches’ developed in Middle English through the legal and logistical use of attaching goods or documents. The broader sense of emotional or psychological ties emerged in the 19th century as psychology and sociology explored bonds between people. In modern usage, attachment covers physical fastening (a part fixed to something else), relational bonds (emotional attachments), and formal associations (subscribing or linking documents, files, or devices). The word entered English with the general meaning of fastening or joining, and gradually expanded to include figurative meanings such as attachments to people or memories, a sense that something is joined or connected with emphasis on continuity and dependence. First known use as a fastening or affix appeared in Middle English texts; the emotional sense became common in clinical and theoretical literature in the 19th and 20th centuries, paralleling developments in attachment theory.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "attachment" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "attachment"
-ent sounds
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Pronounce as ə-TACH-ment with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA US/UK/AU: /əˈtætʃmənt/. Start with a neutral schwa, then a crisp /tætʃ/ as in ‘match’ without lowering your jaw too much, and finish with /mənt/ where /ə/ is a weak vowel and the /nt/ is a clear alveolar nasal followed by a dental nasal closure. Visualize tapping your tongue at the alveolar ridge for /t/ and then curling it to form /tʃ/.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress on the first syllable by saying /ˈæ-təntʃmənt/ instead of /əˈtætʃmənt/; (2) Slurring the /tʃ/ into /t/ or /ʃ/ producing /æ-tatsəmənt/; (3) Vowel reduction in the second syllable leading to /æˈtætʃmənt/ or /əˈtædʒmənt/. Correction: keep secondary syllable stress even when speaking fast, clearly articulate /t/ and /tʃ/ as in ‘attach’ + /mənt/, and avoid over-nasalizing the final /ə/—practice with a slow tempo, then speed up.
US: rhotic, with a clear /əˈtætʃmənt/ and more pronounced /æ/ in the stressed syllable; UK: often a crisper /ˈəˈtætʃmənt/ with less vowel reduction; AU: similar to US but with a slightly broader vowel in the first syllable and less pronounced /t/ release in casual speech. Across regions, the central schwa can shift toward a near schwa /ə/ or /ɐ/ in unstressed positions, while /tʃ/ remains a stable unit.
The difficulty lies in the cluster /tætʃ/ where the alveolar /t/ and palato-alveolar /tʃ/ must be produced in quick succession without vowel weakening between them, plus maintaining the relaxed /ə/ in the first syllable while keeping the stressed /æ/ clear. Also, the final nasal + /t/ can blur if the tongue doesn’t release fully. Focus on a clean /t/ + /tʃ/ sequence and a distinct schwa in the first syllable.
Think of it as three parts: a weak first syllable a-, a strong middle syllable /tætʃ/, and a crisp final -ment. Visualize “uh-TATCH-ment” with a clear /æ/ in the stressed syllable and a light, fast /t/ just before /tʃ/. Keep your lips relaxed for the schwa and finish with a precise /mənt/—don’t merge the /m/ and /n/.”
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