assail
pronunciation
How to pronounce assail in British English:
UK [əˈseɪl]
How to pronounce assail in American English:
US [əˈseɪl]
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- Verb:
- attack someone physically or emotionally
- launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
- attack in speech or writing
Word Origin
- assail (v.)
- c. 1200, from Old French assalir "attack, assault, assail" (12c., Modern French assaillir), from Vulgar Latin *adsalire "to leap at," from Latin ad- "at" (see ad-) + salire "to leap" (see salient (adj.)). Figurative use from mid-14c. Related: Assailed; assailing; assailable.
Example
- 1. By being unusually patient , he hopes to create businesses that rivals will find harder to assail .
- 2. Fervent religious extremism has encouraged people to assail the government .
- 3. Then doubts and fears did assail the very strongest .
- 4. The enemy may assail our defense positions tomorrow .
- 5. Which may assail my body and my soul .