I. əˈsāl also aˈ- transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English assailen, from Old French asaillir, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin assalire, alteration (influenced by salire ) of Latin assilire, adsilire to leap upon, from ad- + salire to leap — more at sally
1. : to attack with violence or vehemence : assault
assail a man with blows
assail a city
the noise assailed his ears
2. : to attack forcefully or violently by nonphysical means (as with words)
the adherents of the new learning were assailed with every sort of ridicule — G.G.Coulton
: beset strongly with or as if with intent to overcome
assailed by a cloud of disturbing thoughts — T.B.Costain
3. archaic : woo
assail her with tenderness
4. : to encounter or confront (as an obstacle) in order to prevail over
assail the slope below the cliff
5. : to make an impact upon
the faint smell of copper assailed my nostrils — Amy Lowell
Synonyms: see attack
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from assailen
archaic : attack