ASSAULT

I. noun Etymology: Middle English assaut, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *assaltus, from assalire Date: 14th century 1. a violent physical or verbal attack, a military attack usually involving direct combat with enemy forces, a concerted effort (as to reach a goal or defeat an adversary), 2. a threat or attempt to inflict offensive physical contact or bodily harm on a person (as by lifting a fist in a threatening manner) that puts the person in immediate danger of or in apprehension of such harm or contact, rape 2, II. verb Date: 15th century transitive verb to make an ~ on, rape 2, intransitive verb to make an ~, see: attack ~er noun