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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Assail


ASSA'IL, verb transitive [Latin assilio, to leap or rush upon, of ad and salio, to leap, to rise.]

1. To leap or fall upon by violence; to assault; to attack suddenly, as when one person falls upon another to beat him.

2. To invade or attack, in a hostile manner, as an army, or nation.

3. To attack with arguments, censure, abuse, or criticism, with a view to injure, bring into disrepute, or overthrow.

4. To attack, with a view to overcome, by motives applied to the passions.

Nor hide the encounter of assailing eyes.