assassin

[uh-sas-in]

noun

1. a murderer, especially one who kills a politically prominent person for fanatical or monetary reasons.

2. (initial capital letter),  one of an order of Muslim fanatics, active in Persia and Syria from about 1090 to 1272, whose chief object was to assassinate Crusaders.

Assassin

¹

/ əˈsæsɪn /

noun

1. a member of a secret sect of Muslim fanatics operating in Persia and Syria from about 1090 to 1256, murdering their victims, usually Crusaders

assassin

²

/ əˈsæsɪn /

noun

1. a murderer, esp one who kills a prominent political figure

Word History and Origins

Origin of assassin¹

1525–35; < Medieval Latin assassinī (plural) < Arabic ḥashshāshīn eaters of hashish

Word History and Origins

Origin of assassin¹

C16: from Medieval Latin assassīnus, from Arabic hashshāshīn, plural of hashshāsh one who eats _hashish

Example Sentences

This was not the work of a lone assassin, the dictator declared; a vast, shadowy opposition conspiracy was responsible.

From Salon

Neither did he mean to imply the accused assassin was affiliated with MAGA, he added.

From Salon

She was the second would-be assassin to confront the 38th president in the space of a month.

From Los Angeles Times

But it was especially disturbing given the FBI director’s alleged friendship with Kirk and the level of seriousness with which Patel claimed the bureau led the manhunt for Kirk’s assassin.

From Salon

"I have received threats from hired assassins," he said, adding that he had lodged a formal complaint with the police.

From BBC