New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
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.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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
