assault
[ uh-sawlt ]
/ əˈsɔlt /
noun
a sudden, violent attack; onslaught: an assault on tradition.
Law.
an unlawful physical attack upon another; an attempt or offer to do violence to another, with or without battery, as by holding a stone or club in a threatening manner.
Military.
the stage of close combat in an attack.
verb (used with object)
to make an assault upon; attack; assail.
Origin of assault
1200–50; Middle English
asaut < Old French < Medieval Latin
assaltus (replacing Latin
assultus), equivalent to Latin
as-
as- +
saltus a leap (
sal(īre) to leap +
-tus suffix of v. action)
SYNONYMS FOR assault
synonym study for assault
5. See
attack.
OTHER WORDS FROM assault
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH assault
assault batteryWords nearby assault
Example sentences from the Web for assault
British Dictionary definitions for assault
assault
/ (əˈsɔːlt) /
noun
a violent attack, either physical or verbal
law
an intentional or reckless act that causes another person to expect to be subjected to immediate and unlawful violence
Compare battery (def. 4), assault and battery
- the culmination of a military attack, in which fighting takes place at close quarters
- (as modifier)assault troops
rape or attempted rape
verb (tr)
to make an assault upon
to rape or attempt to rape
Derived forms of assault
assaulter, noun assaultive, adjectiveWord Origin for assault
C13: from Old French
asaut, from Vulgar Latin
assaltus (unattested), from
assalīre (unattested) to leap upon; see
assail