3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Assault  \As*sault"\,  n.  [OE.  asaut  assaut  OF  assaut  asalt, 
  F.  assaut  LL  assaltus  L.  ad  +  saltus  a  leaping,  a 
  springing,  salire  to  leap.  See  {Assail}.] 
  1.  A  violent  onset  or  attack  with  physical  means  as  blows, 
  weapons,  etc.;  an  onslaught;  the  rush  or  charge  of  an 
  attacking  force;  onset;  as  to  make  assault  upon  a  man,  a 
  house,  or  a  town. 
 
  The  Spanish  general  prepared  to  renew  the  assault. 
  --Prescott. 
 
  Unshaken  bears  the  assault  Of  their  most  dreaded 
  foe,  the  strong  southwest.  --Wordsworth. 
 
  2.  A  violent  onset  or  attack  with  moral  weapons,  as  words 
  arguments,  appeals,  and  the  like  as  to  make  an  assault 
  on  the  prerogatives  of  a  prince,  or  on  the  constitution  of 
  a  government.  --Clarendon. 
 
  3.  (Law)  An  apparently  violent  attempt,  or  willful  offer  with 
  force  or  violence,  to  do  hurt  to  another;  an  attempt  or 
  offer  to  beat  another,  accompanied  by  a  degree  of 
  violence,  but  without  touching  his  person,  as  by  lifting 
  the  fist,  or  a  cane,  in  a  threatening  manner,  or  by 
  striking  at  him  and  missing  him  If  the  blow  aimed  takes 
  effect,  it  is  a  battery.  --Blackstone.  Wharton. 
 
  Practically,  however,  the  word  assault  is  used  to 
  include  the  battery.  --Mozley  &  W. 
 
  Syn:  Attack;  invasion;  incursion;  descent;  onset;  onslaught; 
  charge;  storm. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Assault  \As*sault"\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Assaulted};  p.  pr  & 
  vb  n.  {Assaulting}.]  [From  {Assault},  n.:  cf  OF  assaulter, 
  LL  assaltare.] 
  1.  To  make  an  assault  upon  as  by  a  sudden  rush  of  armed  men; 
  to  attack  with  unlawful  or  insulting  physical  violence  or 
  menaces. 
 
  Insnared,  assaulted,  overcome,  led  bound.  --Milton. 
 
  2.  To  attack  with  moral  means  or  with  a  view  of  producing 
  moral  effects;  to  attack  by  words  arguments,  or 
  unfriendly  measures;  to  assail;  as  to  assault  a 
  reputation  or  an  administration. 
 
  Before  the  gates,  the  cries  of  babes  newborn,  .  .  . 
  Assault  his  ears.  --Dryden. 
 
  Note:  In  the  latter  sense  assail  is  more  common. 
 
  Syn:  To  attack;  assail;  invade;  encounter;  storm;  charge.  See 
  {Attack}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  assault 
  adj  :  used  in  an  attack;  "assault  weapons",  "attack  planes"  [syn: 
  {assault(a)},  {attack(a)}] 
  n  1:  close  fighting  during  the  culmination  of  a  military  attack 
  2:  an  intentional  physical  attack  or  beating  that  causes 
  unlawful  violence  to  another  person  [syn:  {battery},  {assault 
  and  battery}] 
  3:  turning  your  attention  to  a  problem  or  a  job  etc.;  "his 
  attack  on  the  problem  was  misguided";  "he  did  not  make  a 
  direct  assault  on  her  affections"  [syn:  {attack}] 
  4:  the  crime  of  forcing  a  woman  to  submit  to  sexual  intercourse 
  against  her  will  [syn:  {rape},  {violation},  {ravishment}, 
  {sexual  assault}] 
  v  1:  attack  someone  physically  or  emotionally;  "The  mugger 
  assulted  the  woman";  "Nightmares  assailed  him  regularly" 
  [syn:  {assail},  {set  on},  {attack}] 
  2:  attack  verbally,  in  speech  or  writing;  "The  editors  of  the 
  left-leaning  paper  attacked  the  new  House  Speaker"  [syn:  {attack}, 
  {round},  {assail},  {lash  out},  {snipe}] 

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