Assailed definition

Assailed





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1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Assail \As*sail"\ ([a^]s*s[=a]l"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
     {Assailed} (-s[=a]ld"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Assailing}.] [OE.
     assailen, asailen, OF. asaillir, assailler, F. assaillir; a
     (L. ad) + saillir to burst out, project, fr. L. salire to
     leap, spring; cf. L. assilire to leap or spring upon. See
     {Sally}.]


     1. To attack with violence, or in a vehement and hostile
        manner; to assault; to molest; as, to assail a man with
        blows; to assail a city with artillery.
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              No rude noise mine ears assailing.    --Cowper.
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              No storm can now assail
              The charm he wears within.            --Keble.
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     2. To encounter or meet purposely with the view of mastering,
        as an obstacle, difficulty, or the like.
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              The thorny wilds the woodmen fierce assail. --Pope.
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     3. To attack morally, or with a view to produce changes in
        the feelings, character, conduct, existing usages,
        institutions; to attack by words, hostile influence, etc.;
        as, to assail one with appeals, arguments, abuse,
        ridicule, and the like.
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              The papal authority . . . assailed.   --Hallam.
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              They assailed him with keen invective; they assailed
              him with still keener irony.          --Macaulay.
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     Syn: To attack; assault; invade; encounter; fall upon. See
          {Attack}.
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