as·sault /əˈsɔlt/
攻擊,突襲(vt.)襲擊,突襲(vi.)動武
As·sault n.
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.
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.
Practically, however, the word assault is used to include the battery. --Mozley & W.
Syn: -- Attack; invasion; incursion; descent; onset; onslaught; charge; storm.
As·sault, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assaulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Assaulting.]
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.
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assault
n 1: close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
2: a threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who
appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stopped
3: thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1946
4: the crime of forcing a woman to submit to sexual intercourse
against her will [syn: rape, violation, ravishment]
v 1: attack someone physically or emotionally; "The mugger
assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him
regularly" [syn: assail, set on, attack]
2: force (someone) to have sex against their will; "The woman
was raped on her way home at night" [syn: rape, ravish,
violate, dishonor, dishonour, outrage]
3: attack in speech or writing; "The editors of the
left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker" [syn: attack,
round, assail, lash out, snipe]