assault
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Old French noun assaut, from the verb asaillir, from Latin assiliō, from ad (“towards”) + saliō (“to jump”). See also assail.
Pronunciation [edit]
Noun [edit]
assault (plural assaults)
- A violent onset or attack with physical means, as blows, weapons, etc.; an onslaught; the rush or charge of an attacking force; onset; as, to make assault upon a man, a house, or a town.
- A violent onset or attack with moral weapons, as words, arguments, appeals, and the like; as, to make an assault on the prerogatives of a prince, or on the constitution of a government.
- (criminal, law) An attempt to commit battery: a violent attempt, or willful effort with force or violence, to do hurt to another, but without necessarily touching his person, as by lifting a fist in a threatening manner, or by striking at him and missing him.
- (singular only, law) The crime whose action is such an attempt.
- (tort law) An act that causes someone to apprehend imminent bodily harm.
- (singular only, law) The tort whose action is such an act.
- (fencing) A non-competitive combat between two fencers.
Synonyms [edit]
Derived terms [edit]
Coordinate terms [edit]
Translations [edit]
a violent onset or attack
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Verb [edit]
assault (third-person singular simple present assaults, present participle assaulting, simple past and past participle assaulted)
Translations [edit]
to attack, threaten or harass
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Middle French [edit]
Noun [edit]
assault m (plural assauls)
