assault

as·sault   (ə-sôlt')    n.   A violent physical or verbal attack. A military attack, such as one launched against a fortified area or place. The concluding stage of an attack in which close combat occurs with the enemy. An unlawful threat or attempt to do bodily injury to another. The act or an instance of unlawfully threatening or attempting to injure another. Law Sexual assault. The crime of rape. Law An unlawful threat or attempt to do bodily injury to another. The act or an instance of unlawfully threatening or attempting to injure another. Law Sexual assault. The crime of rape. Law Sexual assault. The crime of rape. v.   as·sault·ed, as·sault·ing, as·saults v.   tr. To make an assault upon; attack. See Synonyms at attack. To rape. v.   intr. To make an assault. [Middle English assaut, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *assaltus, variant of Latin assultus, from past participle of assilīre, to jump on; see assail.] as·sault'er n.

assault  (n.)

Main Entry: ¹as·sault
Pronunciation: &-'solt
Function: noun
Etymology: Old French assaut, literally, attack, ultimately from Latin assultus, from assilire to leap (on), attack
1 : the crime or tort of threatening or attempting to inflict immediate offensive physical contact or bodily harm that one has the present ability to inflict and that puts the victim in fear of such harm or contact —compare BATTERY
2 : the crime of assault accompanied by battery; specifically : SEXUAL ASSAULT in this entry called also assault and battery

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aggravated assault
: a criminal assault accompanied by aggravating factors: as a : a criminal assault that is committed with an intent to cause or that causes serious bodily injury esp. through the use of a dangerous weapon b : a criminal assault accompanied by the intent to commit or the commission of a felony (as rape) —compare SIMPLE ASSAULT in this entry

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assault with intent
: a criminal assault committed with the intent to commit another specified crime <assault with intent to rob> <assault with intent to kill>

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civil assault
: an assault considered as a tort rather than as a crime —compare CRIMINAL ASSAULT in this entry

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criminal assault
: an assault considered as a crime rather than as a tort —compare CIVIL ASSAULT in this entry
NOTE: An assault may be both a criminal assault and a civil assault.

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felonious assault
: a criminal assault that is classified as a felony and involves the infliction of serious bodily injury by the use of a dangerous weapon

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indecent assault
: intentional offensive sexual contact that does not amount to sexual intercourse or involve penetration and that is committed without consent of the victim and without the intent to commit rape

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sexual assault
: sexual contact usually that is forced upon a person without consent or inflicted upon a person who is incapable of giving consent (as because of age or physical or mental incapacity) or who places the assailant (as a doctor) in a position of trust —see also RAPE
NOTE: Sexual assault in its most serious forms (often classified as first degree sexual assault) involves nonconsensual sexual penetration. In its less serious forms it may be the equivalent of statutory rape.

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simple assault
: a criminal assault that is not accompanied by any aggravating factors (as infliction of serious injury or use of a dangerous weapon) —compare AGGRAVATED ASSAULT in this entry
NOTE: Simple assault is usually classified as a misdemeanor.