assail
VerbOpen English WordNet
Verb (3)assailed, assailing
- attack someone physically or emotionally“The mugger assaulted the woman”“Nightmares assailed him regularly”Synonyms: assaultset onattackMore general act, moveMore specific rush, jump, rape, molest, beset, desecrate, reassail, savage, bulldog, sic +2 more
- 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”Synonyms: attackOpposite defendMore general contend, fightMore specific strike, invade, besiege, bombard, raid, pepper, counterattack, strafe, gas, blitz +4 moreSimilar attack, aggress
- attack in speech or writing“The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker”Synonyms: attackroundlash outsnipeassaultMore general knock, criticizeMore specific blister, whang, claw, rip, rubbish, abuse, bombard, vitriol
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: 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.
No rude noise mine ears assailing.— William Cowper
No storm can now assail The charm he wears within.— John Keble
2. To encounter or meet purposely with the view of mastering, as an obstacle, difficulty, or the like.
The thorny wilds the woodmen fierce assail.— Alexander Pope
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.
The papal authority... assailed.— Henry Hallam
They assailed him with keen invective; they assailed him with still keener irony.— Thomas Babington Macaulay
Synonyms: To attack; assault; invade; encounter; fall upon. See Attack.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54