[as.sault] n [ME assaut, fr. OF, fr. (assumed) VL assaltus, fr. assalire] (14c) 1 a: a violent physical or verbal attack b: a military attack usu. involving direct combat with enemy forces c: a concerted effort (as to reach a goal or defeat an adversary)
2. a: 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--compare battery 1b b: rape
[2]assault vt (15c) 1: to make an assault on
2: rape ~ vi: to make an assault syn see attack -- as.sault.er n -- as.saul.tive adj -- as.saul.tive.ly adv -- as.saul.tive.ness n