assail

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English assailen, from Old French assaillir, assalir, from Late Latin assalīre, from Latin ad (“at, towards”) + salīre (“jump”). See also assault. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /əˈseɪl/ Rhymes: -eɪl Homophone: asail === Verb === assail (third-person singular simple present assails, present participle assailing, simple past and past participle assailed) (transitive, sometimes figurative) To attack with harsh words or violent force. 2007, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Wizard of the Crow, Nairobo: East African Educational Publishers, Book 2, Chapter 3, p. 64,[1] He did not like being in crowds, foul smells galore assailing his nostrils. (transitive, figurative) To overcome or successfully argue against; defeat. ==== Synonyms ==== ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== assault ==== Translations ==== === Anagrams === Alissa