Attempt a thrusting blow with a knife (4)
I believe the answer is:
stab
I believe this is a quadruple definition!!
'attempt' is the first definition.
(to have a stab is to attempt something)
'a thrusting' is the second definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'blow' is the third definition.
(stab is a kind of blow)
'with' acts as a link.
'a knife' is the fourth definition.
(I know that knife can be written as stab)
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for stab that I've seen before include "Knife thrust; attempt" , "Twinge; guess" , "Try - skewer" , "Rough guess; to knife" , "Go" .)