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Webster 1913 Edition

Assault

As-sault′

,
Noun.
[OE.
asaut
,
assaut
, OF.
assaut
,
asalt
, F.
assaut
, LL.
assaltus
; L.
ad
+
saltus
a leaping, a springing,
salire
to leap. See
Assail
.]
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.

As-sault′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Assaulted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Assaulting
.]
[From
Assault
,
Noun.
: cf. OF.
assaulter
, LL.
assaltare
.]
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.
☞ In the latter sense, assail is more common.
Syn. – To attack; assail; invade; encounter; storm; charge. See
Attack
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Assault

ASSAULT'

,
Noun.
[L. assulto, of ad and salto, to leap, formed on salio, or its root. See Assail. We have the same root in insult and result.]
1.
An attack or violent onset, whether by an individual, a company, or an army. An assault by private persons may be made with or without weapons. As assault by an army is a violent hostile attack; and when made upon a fort or fortified place is called a storm, as opposed to sap or siege.
2.
An attack by hostile words or measures; as, an assault upon the prerogatives of a prince, or upon a constitution of government.
3.
In Law, an unlawful setting upon one's person; an attempt or offer to beat another, without touching his person; as by lifting the fist or a cane, in a threatening manner. If the blow aimed takes effect, it is a battery.

ASSAULT'

, v.t.
1.
To attack or fall upon by violence, or with a hostile intention; as, to assault a man, a house or town.
2.
To invade or fall on with force; as, the cry of war assaults our ears.
3.
To attack by words, arguments or unfriendly measures, with a view to shake, impair or overthrow; as, to assault a character, the laws or the administration.

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