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assailer

 - 3 dictionary results

as⋅sail

  [uh-seyl]
Use assailer in a Sentence
–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; ME asaylen < OF asalir < LL assalīre, equiv. to L as- as- + salīre to leap, spring

Related forms:
as⋅sail⋅a⋅ble, adjective
as⋅sail⋅a⋅ble⋅ness, noun
as⋅sail⋅er, noun
as⋅sail⋅ment, noun

Synonyms:
1. See attack. 2. asperse, malign.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To assailer
as·sail   (ə-sāl')   
tr.v.   as·sailed, as·sail·ing, as·sails

  1. To attack with or as if with violent blows; assault.

  2. To attack verbally, as with ridicule or censure. See Synonyms at attack.

  3. To trouble; beset: was assailed by doubts.


[Middle English assailen, from Old French asalir, asaill-, from Vulgar Latin *assalīre, variant of Latin assilīre, to jump on : ad-, onto; see ad- + salīre, to jump; see sel- in Indo-European roots.]
as·sail'a·ble adj., as·sail'a·bil'i·ty n., as·sail'er n., as·sail'ment n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

assail 
c.1230, from O.Fr. asaillir, from V.L. *adsalire "to leap at," from L. ad- "at" + salire "to leap" (see salient).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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