Assail

Assail
Assail As*sail" ([a^]s*s[=a]l"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Assailed} (-s[=a]ld"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Assailing}.] [OE. assailen, asailen, OF. asaillir, assailler, F. assaillir; a (L. ad) + saillir to burst out, project, fr. L. salire to leap, spring; cf. L. assilire to leap or spring upon. See {Sally}.] 1. To attack with violence, or in a vehement and hostile manner; to assault; to molest; as, to assail a man with blows; to assail a city with artillery. [1913 Webster]

No rude noise mine ears assailing. --Cowper. [1913 Webster]

No storm can now assail The charm he wears within. --Keble. [1913 Webster]

2. To encounter or meet purposely with the view of mastering, as an obstacle, difficulty, or the like. [1913 Webster]

The thorny wilds the woodmen fierce assail. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

3. To attack morally, or with a view to produce changes in the feelings, character, conduct, existing usages, institutions; to attack by words, hostile influence, etc.; as, to assail one with appeals, arguments, abuse, ridicule, and the like. [1913 Webster]

The papal authority . . . assailed. --Hallam. [1913 Webster]

They assailed him with keen invective; they assailed him with still keener irony. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To attack; assault; invade; encounter; fall upon. See {Attack}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Assail — may refer to:* Assail (Malazan), a continent in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series * HMAS Assail (P 89), an Attack class patrol boat * USS Assail (AM 147), an Admirable class minesweeperee also* Assail Bank * Assailant …   Wikipedia

  • assail — (v.) c.1200, from O.Fr. assalir attack, assault, assail (12c., Mod.Fr. assaillir), from V.L. *adsalire to leap at, from L. ad at (see AD (Cf. ad )) + salire to leap (see SALIENT (Cf. salient)). Figurative use from mid 14c. Related …   Etymology dictionary

  • assail — I verb accost, adgredi, adoriri, advance against, advance upon, aggress, assault, assault belligerently, attack, beset, encounter, fall upon, invade, mug, oppugn, oppugnare, rush upon, savage, set upon, set upon with violence, storm, thrust at,… …   Law dictionary

  • assail — bombard, *attack, assault, storm Analogous words: beset (see INFEST): belabor, pummel, buffet, pound, *beat …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • assail — [v] attack, usually with words abuse, assault, bash, berate, beset, blast, blister, bust, charge, come at, criticize, encounter, have at*, impugn, invade, lambaste, lay into*, malign, maltreat, molest, revile, set upon*, trash*, vilify, work… …   New thesaurus

  • assail — ► VERB 1) attack violently. 2) (of an unpleasant feeling) come upon (someone) strongly. ORIGIN Latin assalire, from salire to leap …   English terms dictionary

  • assail — [ə sāl′] vt. [ME assailen < OFr asaillir < VL assalire, for L assilire, to leap on < ad , to + salire, to leap: see SALIENT] 1. to attack physically and violently; assault 2. to attack with arguments, questions, doubts, etc. 3. to begin… …   English World dictionary

  • assail — v. (formal) to assail bitterly * * * [ə seɪl] (formal) to assail bitterly …   Combinatory dictionary

  • assail — UK [əˈseɪl] / US verb [transitive] Word forms assail : present tense I/you/we/they assail he/she/it assails present participle assailing past tense assailed past participle assailed 1) to make someone feel worried or upset He was assailed by… …   English dictionary

  • assail — assailable, adj. assailableness, n. assailer, n. assailment, n. /euh sayl /, v.t. 1. to attack vigorously or violently; assault. 2. to attack with arguments, criticism, ridicule, abuse, etc.: to assail one s opponent with slander …   Universalium

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