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

On the Ninth Circuit, Judge Kennedy ruled against Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, the would-be assassin of President Ford, on a petition to reduce her bail.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

So before Alexander added any new pupil to his “edge assassins” training program, he brought them to the hill for a workout.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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

Read more on Salon

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

Read more on Salon

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times