Attract, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Attracting.]
Etymology: [L. attractus, p. p. of attrahere; ad + trahere to draw. See Trace, v. t.]
1. To draw to, or cause to tend to; esp. to cause to approach, adhere, or combine; or to cause to resist divulsion, separation, or decomposition. All bodies and all parts of bodies mutually attract themselves and one another. Derham.
2. To draw by influence of a moral or emotional kind; to engage or fix, as the mind, attention, etc.; to invite or allure; as, to attract admirers. Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze. Milton.
Syn. -- To draw; allure; invite; entice; influence.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Attract, n.
Attraction. [Obs.] Hudibras.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for attract; he lists it under allure, draw.
Where he writes about it:
We may attract others to a certain thing without intent; as, the good unconsciously attract others to virtue. — from allure
To attract is to exert a force that tends to draw, tho it may produce no actual motion; all objects are attracted toward the earth, tho they may be sustained from falling. — from draw
In the figurative sense, attract is more nearly akin to incline, draw to induce. — from draw