1540s, "abrasion, a scraping," from Latin attritionem (nominative attritio), literally "a rubbing against," noun of action from past participle stem of atterere "to wear, rub away," figuratively "to destroy, waste," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + terere "to rub" (see throw (v.)). The earliest sense in English is from Scholastic theology (late 14c.), "sorrow for sin merely out of fear of punishment," a minor irritation, and thus less than contrition. The sense of "wearing down of military strength" is a World War I coinage (1914). Figurative use by 1930.
例文
1. It was a war of attrition .
消耗戦です。
2.They 're trying to stop the attrition of their rights.
彼らは彼らの権利の削減を阻止しようとしている。
3.The long war of attrition exhausted the strength of both countries.
この長期的な消耗戦は両国の力を使い果たした。
4.The rebels have declared a ceasefire in their war of attrition against the government.
政府との消耗戦で、反逆者は停戦を宣言した。
＜dl>＜dt＞5.The company plans to cut a quarter of its workforce over six years through natural attrition and fewer hirings.