Nearby Words

Assailment

[uh-seyl] Origin

as·sail

[uh-seyl]
verb (used with object)
1.
to attack vigorously or violently; assault.
2.
to attack with arguments, criticism, ridicule, abuse, etc.: to assail one's opponent with slander.
3.
to undertake with the purpose of mastering: He assailed his studies with new determination.
4.
to impinge upon; make an impact on; beset: His mind was assailed by conflicting arguments. The light assailed their eyes.

Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English asaylen < Old French asalir < Late Latin assalīre, equivalent to Latin as- as- + salīre to leap, spring

as·sail·a·ble, adjective
as·sail·a·ble·ness, noun
as·sail·er, noun
as·sail·ment, noun
un·as·sailed, adjective
EXPAND
un·as·sail·ing, adjective
COLLAPSE


1. See attack. 2. asperse, malign.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Assailment is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
Collins
World English Dictionary
assail (əˈseɪl)
 
vb
1.  to attack violently; assault
2.  to criticize or ridicule vehemently, as in argument
3.  to beset or disturb: his mind was assailed by doubts
4.  to encounter with the intention of mastering: to assail a problem; to assail a difficult mountain ridge
 
[C13: from Old French asalir, from Vulgar Latin assalīre (unattested) to leap upon, from Latin assilīre, from salīre to leap]
 
as'sailable
 
adj
 
as'sailer
 
n
 
as'sailment
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

assail
early 13c., from O.Fr. assailir (12c.), from V.L. *adsalire "to leap at," from L. ad- "at" + salire "to leap" (see salient).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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