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.
Nearby words
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
Related forms
Can be confusedassault battery
Synonym study
5. See attack.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples 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 violenceCompare 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 Formsassaulter, nounassaultive, adjective
Word Origin for assault
C13: from Old French asaut, from Vulgar Latin assaltus (unattested), from assalīre (unattested) to leap upon; see assail
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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