assault

1. n. A violent onset or attack with physical means, as blows, weapons, etc.; an onslaught; the rush or charge of an attacking force; onset; as, to make assault upon a man, a house, or a town. Source: opted

2. n. A violent onset or attack with moral weapons, as words, arguments, appeals, and the like; as, to make an assault on the prerogatives of a prince, or on the constitution of a government. Source: opted

3. n. An apparently violent attempt, or willful offer with force or violence, to do hurt to another; an attempt or offer to beat another, accompanied by a degree of violence, but without touching his person, as by lifting the fist, or a cane, in a threatening manner, or by striking at him, and missing him. If the blow aimed takes effect, it is a battery. Source: opted

4. n. To make an assault upon, as by a sudden rush of armed men; to attack with unlawful or insulting physical violence or menaces. Source: opted

5. n. To attack with moral means, or with a view of producing moral effects; to attack by words, arguments, or unfriendly measures; to assail; as, to assault a reputation or an administration. Source: opted

6. n. close fighting during the culmination of a military attack Source: wordnet

7. n. a threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stopped Source: wordnet

8. n. the crime of forcing a person to submit to sexual intercourse against his or her will Source: wordnet

9. v. attack someone physically or emotionally Source: wordnet

10. v. force (someone) to have sex against their will Source: wordnet

11. v. attack in speech or writing Source: wordnet

12. 1. A violent onset or attack with physical means, as blows, weapons, etc.; an onslaught; the rush or charge of an attacking force; onset; as, to make assault upon a man, a house, or a town. The Spanish general prepared to renew the assault. Prescott. Unshaken bears the assault Of their most dreaded foe, the strong southwest. Wordsworth. 2. A violent onset or attack with moral weapons, as words, arguments, appeals, and the like; as, to make an assault on the prerogatives of a prince, or on the constitution of a government. Clarendon. 3. (Law) An apparently violent attempt, or willful offer with force or violence, to do hurt to another; an attempt or offer to beat another, accompanied by a degree of violence, but without touching his person, as by lifting the fist, or a cane, in a threatening manner, or by striking at him, and missing him. If the blow aimed takes effect, it is a battery. Blackstone. Wharton. Practically, however, the word assault is used to include the battery. Mozley & W. Syn. -- Attack; invasion; incursion; descent; onset; onslaught; charge; storm. 1. To make an assault upon, as by a sudden rush of armed men; to attack with unlawful or insulting physical violence or menaces. Insnared, assaulted, overcome, led bound. Milton. 2. To attack with moral means, or with a view of producing moral effects; to attack by words, arguments, or unfriendly measures; to assail; as, to assault a reputation or an administration. Before the gates, the cries of babes newborn, . . . Assault his ears. Dryden. Note: In the latter sense, assail is more common. Syn. -- To attack; assail; invade; encounter; storm; charge. See Attack. Source: webster

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