1540, from L.
attractus, pp. of
attrahere "to draw, to attract," from
ad- "to" +
trahere "draw" (see
tract (1)). Originally a medical term for the body's tendency to absorb fluids, nourishment, etc., or for a poultice treatment to "draw out" diseased matter (1563). Of the ability of people or animals to draw others to them, it is attested from 1568; of physical forces (magnetism, etc.), from 1607 (implied in
attraction).
Attractive in the sense of "pleasing, alluring" is from 1602.
Attraction "interesting or amusing exhibition" is from 1862.
[uh-trakt] 
