assault
Noun · VerbOpen English WordNet
Noun (4)assaults
- close fighting during the culmination of a military attackType of battle, conflictKinds storm, resisting arrestPart of attack, onslaught
- a threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stoppedType of attack, attemptKinds mugging, aggravated assault, battery
- thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1946Instance of thoroughbred
- the crime of forcing a person to submit to sexual intercourse against his or her willSynonyms: rapeviolationravishmentType of sexual assault, sexual abuseKinds date rape, statutory rape
Verb (3)assaults, assaulted, assaulting
- attack someone physically or emotionally“The mugger assaulted the woman”“Nightmares assailed him regularly”Synonyms: assailset onattackMore general act, moveMore specific rush, jump, rape, molest, beset, desecrate, reassail, savage, bulldog, sic +2 more
- force (someone) to have sex against their will“The woman was raped on her way home at night”Synonyms: raperavishviolatedishonordishonouroutrageMore general assail, set onMore specific gang-rape
- attack in speech or writing“The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker”Synonyms: attackroundassaillash outsnipeMore general knock, criticizeMore specific blister, whang, claw, rip, rubbish, abuse, bombard, vitriol
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Translations
Noun violent onset or attack with physical means
- Spanish
- asalto
- French
- assaut
- German
- Angriff
- Italian
- aggressione
- Portuguese
- ataque
- Russian
- нападе́ние napadénije
- Arabic
- هُجُوم hujūm
- Chinese
- 突击 tújí
- Japanese
- 暴行 bōkō
- Dutch
- aanval
Verb to attack
The main translation for each meaning, from the langtolang.com multilingual dictionary. Each word links to its full entry there.
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: OE. asaut, assaut, OF. assaut, asalt, F. assaut, LL. assaltus; L. ad + saltus a leaping, a springing, salire to leap. See Assail.
1. A violent onset or attack with physical means, as blows, weapons, etc.; an onslaught; the rush or charge of an attacking force; onset; as, to make assault upon a man, a house, or a town.
The Spanish general prepared to renew the assault.— William Hickling Prescott
Unshaken bears the assault Of their most dreaded foe, the strong southwest.— William Wordsworth
2. A violent onset or attack with moral weapons, as words, arguments, appeals, and the like; as, to make an assault on the prerogatives of a prince, or on the constitution of a government. Edward Hyde, first earl of Clarendon
3. Law An apparently violent attempt, or willful offer with force or violence, to do hurt to another; an attempt or offer to beat another, accompanied by a degree of violence, but without touching his person, as by lifting the fist, or a cane, in a threatening manner, or by striking at him, and missing him. If the blow aimed takes effect, it is a battery. Blackstone. Wharton.
Practically, however, the word assault is used to include the battery.— Mozley & W.
Synonyms: Attack; invasion; incursion; descent; onset; onslaught; charge; storm.
Origin: From Assault, noun: cf. OF. assaulter, LL. assaltare.
1. To make an assault upon, as by a sudden rush of armed men; to attack with unlawful or insulting physical violence or menaces.
Insnared, assaulted, overcome, led bound.— John Milton
2. To attack with moral means, or with a view of producing moral effects; to attack by words, arguments, or unfriendly measures; to assail; as, to assault a reputation or an administration.
Before the gates, the cries of babes newborn,... Assault his ears.— John Dryden
☞ In the latter sense, assail is more common.
Synonyms: To attack; assail; invade; encounter; storm; charge. See Attack.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54