assail
[ uh-seyl ]
/ əˈseɪl /
verb (used with object)
to attack vigorously or violently; assault.
to attack with arguments, criticism, ridicule, abuse, etc.: to assail one's opponent with slander.
to undertake with the purpose of mastering: He assailed his studies with new determination.
to impinge upon; make an impact on; beset: His mind was assailed by conflicting arguments. The light assailed their eyes.
Origin of assail
1175–1225; Middle English
asaylen < Old French
asalir < Late Latin
assalīre, equivalent to Latin
as-
as- +
salīre to leap, spring
synonym study for assail
1. See
attack.
OTHER WORDS FROM assail
Words nearby assail
ass.,
assad,
assad, hafez al-,
assagai,
assai,
assail,
assailant,
assam,
assam states,
assamese,
assassin
Example sentences from the Web for assailment
Franklin sat by the side of Jefferson, as the admirable document was subjected to this assailment.
Was he not member, duly elected, without possibility of assailment in his legal right?
Annie Besant |Annie BesantAs for the men, they twisted every item about Gourlay and his domicile into fresh matter of assailment.
The House with the Green Shutters |George Douglas Brown
British Dictionary definitions for assailment
assail
/ (əˈseɪl) /
verb (tr)
to attack violently; assault
to criticize or ridicule vehemently, as in argument
to beset or disturb
his mind was assailed by doubts
to encounter with the intention of mastering
to assail a problem; to assail a difficult mountain ridge
Derived forms of assail
assailable, adjective assailer, noun assailment, nounWord Origin for assail
C13: from Old French
asalir, from Vulgar Latin
assalīre (unattested) to leap upon, from Latin
assilīre, from
salīre to leap