1610s, "unprovoked attack," from French aggression (16c., Modern French agression), from Latin aggressionem (nominative aggressio) "a going to, an attack," noun of action from past-participle stem of aggredi "to approach; to attempt; to attack," from ad "to" (see ad-) + gradi (past participle gressus) "to step," from gradus "a step," figuratively "a step toward something, an approach" (from PIE root *ghredh- "to walk, go"). The psychological sense of "hostile or destructive behavior" is recorded by 1912 in A.A. Brill's translation of Freud.
"make an attack," 1714, probably a back-formation from aggression; an identical word was used earlier with a sense of "approach" (1570s) and in this sense it is from French aggresser, from Late Latin aggressare, frequentative of Latin aggredi "to approach, attack." Related: Aggressed; aggressing.
1670s, "person who first attacks," from Latin aggressor, agent noun from past-participle stem of aggredi "to approach; to attempt; to attack" (see aggression).
updated on September 16, 2022
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