assassin

[ uh-sas-in ]

/ əˈsæs ɪn /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR assassin ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

(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.

Nearby words

assail, assailant, assam, assam states, assamese, assassin, assassin bug, assassin fly, assassinate, assateague island, assault

Origin of assassin

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for assassin

There was no assassin but despite the overwhelming presence of troops and FBI agents, violent incidents still occurred.
Honoring The Late John Doar, A Nearly Forgotten Hero Of The Civil Rights Era|Gary May|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Early scenes show her in an all-white suit, ambushing an assassin.
The CIA Spook Turned Comic Book Scribe: Robin Grabs a Gun in ‘Grayson’|Rich Goldstein|June 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Indeed, every Assassin's Creed game—aside from a small segment of one—has had a man as its center.
Video Games Need More Than Damsels and Dames|Tauriq Moosa|June 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Paul Bowles put it that way in Let It Come Down, a title taken from a Shakespearean assassin just before he strikes.
Susan Minot on Africa, Joseph Kony, and the Limits of Writing About Love|Lea Carpenter|February 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST

When her bra was cut from her body, the assassin or assassins also cut off the tab on which the tiny metal clasp was affixed.
Amanda Knox Faces Another Guilty Verdict|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He received the blow on his arm, grappled with the assassin, and throwing him on the ground despatched him with his own dagger.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Here the Assassin prince became enamoured of a Mongol maiden of the very lowest class.
Secret Societies of the Middle Ages|Thomas Keightley
I knew by the dog's actions that the assassin had been there, for Caesar immediately took a new trail back to the house.
The Darrow Enigma|Melvin L. Severy
As has been said, the name of the assassin was John Wilkes Booth!
Sketch of the life of Abraham Lincoln|Isaac Newton Arnold
All the peasants were in the league of crime and screened the assassin.
Irish History and the Irish Question|Goldwin Smith

British Dictionary definitions for assassin (1 of 2)

assassin

/ (əˈsæsɪn) /

noun

a murderer, esp one who kills a prominent political figure

Word Origin for assassin

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

British Dictionary definitions for assassin (2 of 2)

Assassin

/ (əˈsæsɪn) /

noun

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

assassin

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of assassin

Examples from the Web for assassin

British Dictionary definitions for assassin (1 of 2)

assassin

noun

Word Origin for assassin

British Dictionary definitions for assassin (2 of 2)

Assassin

noun