I. əˈsas ə n, -saas- sometimes -sin noun
( -s )
Etymology: Medieval Latin assassinus, from Arabic ḥashshāshīn, plural of ḥashshāsh one who smokes or chews hashish, hashish addict, from ḥashīsh hemp, hashish
1. usually capitalized : one of a secret order of Muslims that at the time of the Crusades terrorized Christians and other enemies by secret murder committed under the influence of hashish
2. : murderer ; especially : one that murders either for hire or from fanatic adherence to a cause
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
obsolete : assassinate