[syn: attack, round, assail, lash out, snipe, assault]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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.
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No rude noise mine ears assailing. --Cowper.
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No storm can now assail
The charm he wears within. --Keble.
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2. To encounter or meet purposely with the view of mastering,
as an obstacle, difficulty, or the like.
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The thorny wilds the woodmen fierce assail. --Pope.
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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.
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The papal authority . . . assailed. --Hallam.
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They assailed him with keen invective; they assailed
him with still keener irony. --Macaulay.
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Syn: To attack; assault; invade; encounter; fall upon. See
Attack.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
assail
v 1: attack someone physically or emotionally; "The mugger
assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him regularly"
[syn: assail, assault, set on, attack]
2: launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start
warfare with; "Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939
and started World War II"; "Serbian forces assailed Bosnian
towns all week" [syn: attack, assail] [ant: defend]
3: attack in speech or writing; "The editors of the left-leaning
paper attacked the new House Speaker" [syn: attack,
round, assail, lash out, snipe, assault]