assassination

verb (used with object), as·sas·si·nat·ed, as·sas·si·nat·ing.

to kill suddenly or secretively, especially a politically prominent person; murder premeditatedly and treacherously.

to destroy or harm treacherously and viciously: to assassinate a person's character.

Origin:
1590–1600; assassin + -ate¹

Related forms

as·sas·si·na·tion, noun

as·sas·si·na·tive, adjective

as·sas·si·na·tor, noun

coun·ter·as·sas·si·na·tion, noun

un·as·sas·si·nat·ed, adjective

Synonyms
1. slay.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins

World English Dictionary

assassinate (əˈsæsɪˌneɪt)

—vb
1.	to murder (a person, esp a public or political figure), usually by a surprise attack
2.	to ruin or harm (a person's reputation, etc) by slander

assassi'nation

—n

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assassinate (əˈsæsɪˌneɪt)

—vb
1.	to murder (a person, esp a public or political figure), usually by a surprise attack
2.	to ruin or harm (a person's reputation, etc) by slander

assassi'nation

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

assassinate

1610s, from pp. stem of M.L. assassinare (see assassin). Of reputations, characters, etc., from 1620s.

assassination

c.1600, noun of action from assassinate (q.v.).

Matching Quote

"I suppose you all realize that as members of the court marshall for the trial of the conspirators in the assassination of our beloved president you have on your souls a grave responsibility. The object of this trial is not to determine the guilt or innocence of a handful of rebels but to save this country from further bloodshed. The solemn truth, gentlemen, is that the federal union is on the verge of hysteria. That is why the trial of these conspirators has been placed in your hands rather than in a civil court. Because men of the sword can be hard, and hardness is all that can save this country from riot, mob rule, even resumption of the war itself.... To help you to be hard, first, you must not allow your judgement in decision in this case to be troubled by any trifling technicalities of the law or any pedantic regard for the customary rules of evidence. Second, and most important, you must not allow yourself to be influenced by that obnoxious creation of legal nonsense—reasonable doubt."

-Nunnally Johnson

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assassination

as·sas·si·nate