assault
/əˈsɔlt/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.44 in modern English
7
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A violent onset or attack with physical means, for example blows, weapons, etc.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
A violent verbal attack, for example with insults, criticism, and the like
Countable; Uncountable
noun
An attempt to commit battery: a violent attempt, or willful effort with force or violence, to do hurt to another, but without necessarily touching the person, such as by raising a fist in a threatening manner, or by striking at the person and missing.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "The army made an assault on the enemy."
- "The Spanish general prepared to renew the assault."
- "Unshaken bears the assault / Of their most dreaded foe, the strong southwest."
- "Hostilities peaked with the Skyllian Blitz of 2176, an attack on the human capital of Elysium by batarian-funded pirates and slavers. In 2178, the Alliance retaliated with a crushing assault on the moon of Torfan, long used as a staging base by batarian-backed criminals. In the aftermath, the batarians retreated into their own systems, and are now rarely seen in Citadel space."
- "She launched a written assault on the opposition party."
- "Tom was accused of assaulting another man outside a nightclub."
Etymology
From Middle English assaut, from Old French noun assaut, derived from the past participle of the verb assalir, from Late Latin assalīre, from Latin ad (“at, towards”) + salīre (“jump”). See also assail. Spelling Latinized around 1530 to add an l.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /əˈsɔlt/
- British English: /əˈsɒlt/
Usage
Subject
Wiktionary places this term in Law.
Inflected Forms
Derived Forms
Phrases
ag assault
agg. assault
aggravated assault
amphibious assault ship
assault and battery
assault at arms
assault course
assault on the senses