Noah Webster
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.