assailv.¹

Brit.

/əˈseɪl/, U.S.

/əˈseɪl/

Forms: early Middle English asaleð (3rd singular indicative, transmission error), Middle English asaȝile, Middle English asailȝe, Middle English asaille, Middle English asailli, Middle English asayl, Middle English asayli, Middle English asaylle, Middle English asaylly, Middle English aseyl, Middle English assailȝe, Middle English assale, Middle English assaylle, Middle English asseile, Middle English asseille, Middle English–1500s asaile, Middle English–1500s asseyle, Middle English–1600s asayle, Middle English–1600s assaile, Middle English–1600s assaill, Middle English–1600s assaille, Middle English–1600s assayl, Middle English–1600s assayle, late Middle English asale (northern), 1500s asseil, 1500s– assail; also Scottish pre-1700 assailȝe, pre-1700 assailȝie, pre-1700 assailie, pre-1700 assailye, pre-1700 assailyie, pre-1700 assale, pre-1700 assalȝe, pre-1700 assayhle, pre-1700 assayleyhe, pre-1700 asseilȝe, pre-1700 asseill, pre-1700 asseilye, pre-1700 asselȝe, pre-1700 asselȝie, 1800s assailzie (archaic).

Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French assailir.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman assailir, assailler, asseiller, assallir, asailer, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French assaillir, asaillir, Anglo-Norman and Middle French assalir, Middle French asalir (French assaillir ) to attack (a person or thing) physically (10th cent.), to tempt, try (a person) (late 12th cent.), (of a mental state, sense impression, etc.) to come upon or affect (a person) strongly and suddenly (late 12th cent.), (of an animal) to mount (a female) (late 13th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman, a1403 in continental French), to attack (a person) with hostile or antagonistic words (mid 14th cent. or earlier), to pursue (a woman) romantically (second half of the 15th cent.) < post-classical Latin adsalire (also assalire ) to assault (6th cent. in Salic Law; frequently from 11th cent. in British sources), (of a stallion) to mount (a mare) (14th cent. in a British source) < classical Latin ad- ad- prefix + salīre to leap, spring (see salient adj.), as alteration of classical Latin assilīre , also adsilīre (a formation from the same elements, with reduction of the vowel in the second syllable). Compare Old Occitan asalhir , assalhir (12th cent.), Spanish (rare) †assalir , †asalir (12th cent.; perhaps < Old Occitan), Italian assalire (first half of the 13th cent.). Compare sail v.², and also assault n., assault v.This word shows some semantic overlap with assay v., and was probably influenced by it in senses 3a and 3b, which do not appear to be paralleled in French. Although the semantic overlap also occurs in senses relating to temptation, early uses of the English verb in these senses are best taken as extended uses of the physical ‘attack’ sense, as in French.

I. To attack, and related senses.

†1. transitive. To harass, incite, or lure with temptation; to tempt, to try. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)] > attack spiritually

assailc1225

saila1300

assaulta1535

the mind > will > motivation > attraction, allurement, or enticement > attract, allure, or entice [verb (transitive)] > tempt

afondOE

fandOE

assailc1225

temptc1230

tenta1250

attempta1513

assay1532

assaulta1535

attack1655

c1225 (?c1200) Hali Meiðhad (Bodl.) (1940) 705 Ne schalt tu beon icrunet bute þu beo asailet [a1250 Titus asailȝet].

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 249 He [sc. the devil] asaylede þane uerste man be þe mouþe.

c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xix. l. 221 (MED) Whan antecryst ȝow assailleth.

1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) lxii. 92 Grete and euylle temptacions shall befyght and assaylle yow.

1564 T. Becon New Catech. in Catech. & Other Pieces (1844) 190 But doth God assail sinners only with this temptation of adversity?

1594 Willobie his Auisa Ep. Ded. sig. *2^v Such lewd chapmen as..assayle the Chastity of honest women.

1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue ii. v. 288 A cruell squadron of sore and fierce enemies..hotly assaile vs with the sweet enticements of sin.

1791 Advice to Unmarried Women 37 Ruin must ensue if you have not the resolution to withstand the bribes with which your virtue is assailed.

1810 E. Moor Hindu Pantheon 235 Devi first assailed him in the alluring forms of sixty-four yoginis, or female anchorets.

1880 Quiver 15 421/1 When bitter temptations assail,..the sorely bestead soldier cries out, ‘Lord, I believe, help Thou mine unbelief,’ and the enemy's power is broken.

1907 W. Sanday Life Christ in Recent Res. i. 28 There are three scenes in which the Son of God is assailed by the Tempter.

a. transitive. To attack with physical violence; to assault.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > attack > attack [verb (transitive)]

greetc893

overfallOE

riseOE

assail?c1225

to lay on or upon?c1225

onseekc1275

to set on ——c1290

infighta1300

saila1300

to go upon ——c1300

to turn one's handc1325

lashc1330

annoyc1380

impugnc1384

offendc1385

to fall on ——a1387

sault1387

affrayc1390

to set upon ——1390

to fall upon ——a1398

to lay at?a1400

semblea1400

assayc1400

havec1400

aset1413

oppressa1425

attachc1425

to set at ——c1430

fraya1440

fray1465

oppugn?a1475

sayc1475

envaye1477

pursue1488

envahisshe1489

assaulta1500

to lay to, untoa1500

requirea1500

enterprise?1510

invade1513

assemblec1515

expugn1530

to fare on1535

to fall into ——1550

mount1568

attack?1576

affront1579

invest1598

canvass1599

to take arms1604

attempt1605

to make force at, to, upon1607

salute1609

offence1614

strikea1616

to give a lift at1622

to get at ——1650

insult1697

to walk into ——1794

to go in at1812

to go for ——1838

to light on ——1842

strafe1915

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)]

assail?c1225

to set on ——c1290

saila1300

to turn one's handc1325

lashc1330

to set against ——c1330

impugnc1384

offendc1385

weighc1386

checka1400

to lay at?a1400

havec1400

to set at ——c1430

fraya1440

rehetea1450

besail1460

fray1465

tuilyie1487

assaulta1500

enterprise?1510

invade1513

sturt1513

attempt1546

lay1580

tilt1589

to fall aboard——1593

yoke1596

to let into1598

to fall foul1602

attack1655

do1780

to go in at1812

to pitch into ——1823

tackle1828

vampire1832

bushwhack1837

to go for ——1838

take1864

pile1867

volcano1867

to set about ——1879

vampirize1888

to get stuck into1910

to take to ——1911

weigh1941

rugby-tackle1967

rugger-tackle1967

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 51 Hwil me wið quarreus vtewið assailleð þe castel.

c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 1862 Þe laddes..Him asayleden wit grete dintes.

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 8120 Hii bigonne..þen toun to asaili [c1425 Harl. asaly].

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) ii. l. 1838 (MED) He goth and hath the feld assailed.

a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xii. l. 359 That ȝate Asailled ne Myhte not ben.

1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) iii. 151 Wes nane..That durst assailȝe him mar in fycht.

1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid ix. ii. 17 Gif thai assailȝeit wer..be hard fortoun of weyr.

1555 R. Eden in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 91 Vaschus..exhorted his men..fiercely to assayle theyr enemies.

1600 E. Blount tr. G. F. di Conestaggio Hist. Uniting Portugall to Castill 132 To assaile the entrie of the mouth of Lisbone.

1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1165 No worthy match For valour to assail .

1713 R. Steele Englishman No. 12. 77 It is for the Vulgar to assail one another like brute Beasts.

1797 E. Pellew Let. in Mariner′s Mirror (1913) 3 89/1 A heavy fire of musketry assailed us.

1841 T. J. Serle Joan of Arc II. xxi. 320 Perhaps it is not with wearied men that we should assail the enemy.

1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People i. §2. 15 This district was assailed at once from the north and from the south.

1920 H. V. Lovett Hist. Indian Nationalist Movement iii. 69 The Moderates were pushed out of a hall and assailed with stones and mud.

1948 Kenyon Rev. 10 149 Most of the French were..expecting to be assailed by atomic bombs or Russian tanks at any moment.

2013 P. K. Davis Masters of Battlefield ix. 238 Žižka decided to launch an ambitious surprise attack, assailing the enemy leader's headquarters at sunrise.

b. intransitive. To make a physical attack or assault. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > attack > attack [verb (intransitive)]

to lay ona1225

assailc1325

sailc1330

assemblea1375

to fall inc1384

to fall ona1387

givec1430

brunt1440

to set (all) on sevenc1440

to ding on1487

to fall down1534

offend1540

to go on1553

to give on?1611

to let fly1611

strikea1616

insult1638

to set on1670

aggress1708

to carry the war into the enemy's camp1791

hop over1929

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 8130 As noblemen, hii assailede [c1425 Harl. asaylede] euere vaste.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) Prol. l. 727 Wher Rome thanne wolde assaille, Ther myhte nothing contrevaille, Bot every contre moste obeie.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) ix. 31 Gif thai assalȝe [1489 Adv. assaile], we mon defend.

a1500 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Rawl.) (1896) 37 (MED) He..callid the wepenyd men to the assaute and thay egyrly assaylid.

1567 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure II. xiv. f. 91 When they came to entre battell, they assailed confusedly.

1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xxxi. 801 As they assailed in sundrie places; so their manner of assailing was much different.

1649 Great & Bloudy Fight at Sea 2 They assayled so far, that..they forced the enemy under Decks.

1749 G. West tr. Euripides Iphigenia in Tauris ii, in tr. Pindar Odes 154 With flinty Show'rs On ev'ry Part assailing, from their Hands Their shining Blades we beat.

1863 W. Roberts Hist. U.S. (rev. ed.) 274 Who assailed on the right?

1919 19th Cent. & After Nov. 980 The foe tried his luck with bombs, assailing from three sides.

1944 N.Y. Times 26 July 2/7 The garrison of Lublin opposed with dogged resistance the enemy who is assailing from all sides with superior forces.

†3.

a. transitive. To attempt (something). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > undertaking > undertake [verb (transitive)] > something risky

afondc1300

assailc1300

adventurea1387

to venture on (also upon1557

venture1559

venture1598

peril1849

the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > make experiment of or with [verb (transitive)]

afondc1300

assailc1300

found1340

assay1377

taste1382

experiment1524

experience1541

try1545

attempt1563

practise1632

explore1667

experimentate1670

to taste of1700

to try out1888

to try (something)(on) for size1979

fand-

c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) l. 856 (MED) Þe ilke bataille Cutberd gan assaille: He ȝaf dentes inoȝe.

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Macc. ii. 25 We byholdynge the multitude of bookis, and hardnesse, to men willynge for to assaile [L. adgredi], or bygynne, the tellyngis of stories.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) ii. l. 2620 The Soldan hath the feld assailed.

?c1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (Paris) (1971) 1 Assailynge [?a1425 N.Y. Acad. Med. assaiyng; L. aggrediens] an exposicioun..of þe crafte of cirurgye.

c1440 Sir Degrevant (Thornton) (1949) l. 1090 Þare was none so hardy Þat durste assayle þat cry.

1595 G. Markham Most Honorable Trag. Sir R. Grinuile sig. E4 None darring to assayle a second fight.

b. transitive. With infinitive as object. To attempt or endeavour (to do something). Obsolete (archaic or poetic in later use).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > endeavour > make an attempt or endeavour [verb (intransitive)] > to do something

cuneOE

seekc1000

fanda1225

suec1325

tastec1330

enforcec1340

study1340

temptc1384

intendc1385

assaila1393

proffera1393

to make meansc1395

search?a1400

fraistc1400

pursuec1400

to go aboutc1405

pretend1482

attempta1513

essay?1515

attend1523

regarda1533

offer1541

frame1545

to stand about1549

to put into (also in) practice1592

prove1612

imitate1626

snap1766

begin1833

make1880

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vi. l. 1308 (MED) With Nigromance he wole assaile To make his incantacioun.

a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 3953 Which han assailed hym to shende And with her trowandyse to blynde.

1562 tr. Damiano da Odemira Pleasaunt Playe of Cheasts v. sig. E.v^v Assailing to breake thy defences.

1585 R. Greene Planetomachia sig. G2^v All desirous of gaine and glorie..assailed to winne the price.

1606 G. W. tr. Justinus Hist. xxxviii. f. 122^v Hee assailed to steale home into his kingdome.

1655 J. Lightfoot Harmony New-Test. ii. 139 He assails to take the Ile of Man.

1785 E. Perronet Occas. Verses 140 But here digress'd, we now assail To end the moral of the tale.

1841 W. Ware Julian II. xix. 188 He does the works of God, while he assails to overthrow it, the truth of God.

1874 B. P. Shillaber Lines in Pleasant Places 261 Fierce storms assail to drive thee thence.

c. transitive. To put to the test. Also with subordinate clause as object. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > trial, test, or testing > try or test [verb (transitive)]

fandc893

costeneOE

afondOE

provea1200

fraista1300

assay1330

sayc1330

try1362

approvec1380

examinea1382

winnowa1382

tempt1382

tastea1400

assailc1405

essay1484

scryc1615

sensea1688

test1748

trial1981

dogfood1997

c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Clerk's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) Envoy l. 4 No wedded man so hardy be tassaille [c1465 Huntington HM 140 tassey] His wyues pacience.

a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) i. l. 3362 The serpent hym felly wolde assaile With a problem..Callid off summe an vnkouth dyuynaile.

c1540 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece Hyst. & Cron. Scotl. i. viii. f. 7^v/1 Delite ȝe ony forther to assailȝe gif ony band may be kepit with vnfaithfull pepyll?

a. transitive. Of a physical, emotional, or mental state: to come upon or affect strongly and suddenly; to (threaten to) overcome; to afflict. Also intransitive.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > quality of affecting the emotions > affect with emotion [verb (transitive)] > seize or strike (of an emotion)

assaila1393

supprisea1413

strike1533

infecta1586

seize1845

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 377 (MED) Thurst and hunger him assaileth.

c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. ii. l. 96 Til slepe hem assaille.

a1450 Generides (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) l. 1694 Ther had he rest but small, So loue assaled him ouerall.

a1500 (?a1449) J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 704 (MED) [If you overeat] be war that non accesse Nor vncouth agew vnwarely the assaile.

1561 tr. J. Calvin Foure Godlye Serm. Idolatries iii. sig. G.vi The brute beastes..do crye for fode whan hounger, assaileth.

1596 Z. Jones tr. J. de Lavardin Hist. Scanderbeg 8 An incredible kind of care intermingled with griefe did assaile the hearts of the regardants.

a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) v. vii. 9 That fell poison which assayleth him.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 294 New Pangs of mortal Fear our Minds assail.

1760 J. C. Pilkington Real Story 17 Fatigue and hunger then very closely assailed me.

1779 J. Newton in J. Newton & W. Cowper Olney Hymns i. vii. 8 Tho' troubles assail And dangers affright.

1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. ii, in Poems 79 Compassion first assail'd her gentle Heart.

1899 F. Morgan tr. C. Cantù Isotta in Universal Anthol. 30 332 Love, jealousy, pride, fury, assailed her all at once.

1911 Twentieth Cent. Mag. Mar. 529/1 When doubts assailed,..her faith appears to have given way to fear.

1961 Times 12 June 15/4 That imprisoned feeling that assails the most devoted mother of small children.

2008 Herald (Glasgow) (Nexis) 1 Nov. (Mag.) 12 A clever man assailed by self-doubt and insecurity.

b. transitive. Of a thing or phenomenon, esp. a sense impression: to strike or come upon suddenly and forcefully, esp. with a negative effect (by being harmful, offensive, unpleasant, etc.).In quot. 1667 with the personification of Chaos as the subject.

ΚΠ

a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) i. l. 1154 (MED) The ston, the syment wer maad off such mateer, And the ioynyng so stedfast and enteer, Thouh fir and watir bothe it dede assaile, Ful lite or nouht ther power sholde auaile.

1595 H. Chettle Piers Plainnes Prentiship sig. H3 A storme..assailed vs, driuing our smal boate against a rocke.

c1614 W. Mure tr. Virgil Dido & Æneas i. in Wks. (1898) I. 273 The tumbling billowes fast her syddes assaill.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 417 And [Chaos] with rebounding surge the barrs assaild, That scorn'd his indignation.

1745 J. Brown Ess. Satire ii. 19 The muse's charms with surest force assail, When wrapt in Irony's transparent veil.

1771 E. Griffith tr. ‘P. Viaud’ Shipwreck 151 The horrid din which assailed our ears.

a1800 W. Cowper tr. J. M. B. de la M. Guyon Poems (1801) 75 No rude noise mine ears assailing.

1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. §3. 31 We were assailed by a violent hailstorm.

1953 Cosmos Sci. Fiction & Fantasy Mag. Nov. 83 A chant rose to assail his ears.

1982 S. K. Penman Sunne in Splendour (1984) iv. xxi. 789 She gasped suddenly as the stench of gutted entrails and offal assailed her nostrils.

2008 Alberni Valley (Brit. Columbia) Times (Nexis) 30 July 5 Today when I drive west on Highway 4, I remember the sight that assailed my eyes years ago.

a. transitive. To attack (esp. a person) with hostile or antagonistic words; to speak or write against; to criticize strongly.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > statement > speaking against or contradiction > speak against or contradict [verb (transitive)] > hostilely

assail?c1400

assault1561

?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) i. pr. iii. l. 180 Trowest þou þat philosophi be now alþerfirst assailed in perils by folk of wicked [emended in ed. to wickede] maneres?

a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 5295 If men wolen hym assayle..And hyndren hym of his Renoun.

1541 R. Whitford Dyuers Holy Instrucyons & Teachynges xvi. f. 32 She assayled him w^t vpbraydes and rebukes.

1595 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 i. i. 65 Here in the Parlement, Let vs assaile the familie of Yorke.

1689 T. Rogers Lux Occidentalis Pref. sig. A4 They found it necessary..to libel her honour, and assail her reputation.

1717 A. Pope Occasion'd by Some Verses in Wks. 414 Let crowds of criticks now my verse assail.

1794 C. Smith Wanderings of Warwick vii. 149 He represented to me, that..it would be unworthy of me to assail him with words of reproach.

1819 Times 4 Aug. Some hard-bitten fellow assailed the orator with a line from Swift, ‘Fine words—I wonder where you stole 'em’.

1855 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Philip II of Spain I. ii. vii. 439 Assailing the fallen minister with libels, lampoons, and caricatures.

1942 Amer. Observer 9 Feb. 5/4 He has been assailed by some critics as a ‘reactionary’ politician who has divorced Eire from Britain only to set up a tight little dictatorship in Dublin.

1983 P. Ackroyd Last Test. Oscar Wilde 41 We assailed each other with extravagant phrases.

2012 N.Y. Mag. 11 June 53/3 In 2004, he wrote ‘A Fighting Faith’..which assailed his fellow liberals..for being insufficiently hawkish.

b. transitive. To speak out against, challenge, or oppose (a belief, practice, etc.).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)] > attack with hostile words or measures > specific institutions, customs, or opinions

assail1532

1532 R. Whitford Pype or Tonne f. ccvi Y^e ghostly enemy is more busy & labourious to assayle, trouble, & destroy this chastite, than any other.

1557 W. Baldwin & T. Palfreyman Treat. Morall Philos. (new ed.) iii. x. f. 101^v They that be euill..beare..armes offensiue, to assaile the good maners of other.

1637 J. Milton Comus 20 Vertue may be assail'd, but never hurt.

1698 Answer to Mr. Molyneux 167 Subjects that so rashly undertake to..assail the Authority of a powerful Kingdom.

1774 J. Priestley Exam. Dr. Reid's Inq. i. xiii. 117 Religion, though assailed from so many quarters as it has been of late, is under no necessity of taking refuge in such untenable fortresses.

1844 Ld. Brougham Brit. Constit. viii. 104 Choosing to assail the religion of the people before he had destroyed their liberty.

1878 Examiner 19 Oct. 1329/1 We assail conventionalities and conformities with our pens, or our tongues, or our overt acts, or, it may be, the cut of our clothes.

1958 M. Keller In Def. of Yesterday iii. 91 He attacked the Progressive party for assailing ‘the very fundamentals of the Constitution’ in its support of the recall of judges.

2000 Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minnesota) 1 Jan. 12 e 19th century religious belief is assailed by Charles Darwin (theories of evolution).

6. transitive. To (attempt to) persuade, convince, or controvert with reasoning or argument.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > putting forward for discussion > put forward [verb (transitive)] > attack with arguments

objectc1460

assaila1500

assault1551

wring1567

contestate?1572

question1613

join1632

contest1663

concert1689

a1500 (?a1400) Morte Arthur (1903) l. 2674 (MED) The kynge the messyngere thus did assayle: ‘It were pite to sette warre vs by-twene.’

1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. i. 29 Let vs once againe Assaile your eares that are so fortified.

1695 R. Blackmore Prince Arthur i. 2 Nor did his Arts in vain weak Man assail.

1791 T. Jefferson Let. 31 Mar. in Writings (1853) III. 232 They would assail us on the subject of the treaty.

1833 H. Martineau Manch. Strike (new ed.) x. 114 She assailed her husband on the subject of taking work.

1875 Dundee Courier & Argus 27 Jan. The Act..places the Church in a position in which it cannot be successfully assailed by any argument except that which is based on the plea of equality.

1927 Classical Weekly 3 Jan. 76/1 After thus assailing the materialists of his day, Cicero turns to the ascetics.

1985 P. D. Nelson A. Wayne xi. 228 Men on all sides assailed him with arguments against the Washington administration's recently imposed excise tax on whiskey.

2012 A. Bergen 100 Years Vicissitude xi. 86 I think I'm going to assail you with a good lecture.

†7. transitive. To pursue romantically; to court, to woo. Also occasionally intransitive. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > flirtation or coquetry > flirt with [verb (transitive)] > try determinedly to gain (someone's) affections > assail with love proposals

assayc1550

assail1581

1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. iii. f. 19^v It behoueth an honest woman to shew her selfe so sober and chast in countenance, that no man may be so hardie to assayle her.

1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets xli. sig. D^v Beautious thou art, therefore to be assailed .

a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) ii. iii. 37 I haue assayl'd her with Musickes.

1662 M. W. Marriage Broaker v. i. 81 Like to the warlike Ram I will assail her So fiercely, that she shall not dare resist.

1718 C. Molloy Coquet ii. 26 You must assail her with all the moving Powers of Art and Eloquence, the same you practise where you really design a Conquest.

1765 R. Cumberland Summer's Tale iii. vi. 81 With such Art assailing, You are so prevailing I must yield both Heart and Hand.

8. transitive. To approach (an obstacle, task, etc.) with the intention of mastering it; to make a concerted effort on; to tackle.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > undertaking > undertake [verb (transitive)] > something difficult

assail1582

assay?1606

attack1689

1582 R. Robinson tr. J. Leland Learned Assertion Life Prince Arthure xv. f. 27 Then aduance Will I, That high Parnassus mount for to assaile.

a1680 S. Butler Genuine Remains (1759) I. 3 The lofty Tube, the Scale With which they Heav'n itself assail, Was mounted full against the Moon.

1726 E. Fenton in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey IV. xix. 508 The thorny wilds the wood-men fierce assail.

1797 Crit. Rev. Mar. 308 Five times have we assailed the three quarto volumes, but in vain.

1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. §25. 182 Assailing the rocks at their base, and climbing them to the cabin.

1894 Chautauquan Apr. 27/1 Ethnology..investigates the origin of races and assails the problem of the unity of man.

1914 P. G. Wodehouse White Hope vii, in Munsey's Mag. May 836/1 When a lazy man does make up his mind to assail a piece of work, he is like a dog with a bone.

1968 T. E. Y. Seddon Seddons viii. 184 Workmen valiantly assailed the job and met one reverse after another.

2001 Vancouver Province (Nexis) 21 June b12 Assailing the world's tallest peak..is a deadly serious undertaking.

†II. To copulate with.

9. transitive. Of a male animal: to copulate with (a female). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride (a horse or other animal) [verb (transitive)] > mount (a horse or other animal) > mount by leaping

assaila1387

vault1538

breast1802

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 179 Darius..charged hem þat he schulde make his hors assaile a mare þat nyȝt.

a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xxiii. 422 xij lyonsewes..com in to the courte to the sowe, and assailed hir oon after a-nother.

1601 L.W.C. Verie Perfect Disc. Horse 22 For swelling of the Coddes. Let him assaile a Mare, and giue him no prouender.

1614 T. S. Iewell for Gentrie sig. O4 The seauenth yeere he will auaile great Bitches to assaile.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2018; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

单词	assail
释义	assailn. Brit. /əˈseɪl/, U.S. /əˈseɪl/ Forms: Middle English asayle, Middle English assayle, Middle English 1600s assaile, 1500s– assail; Scottish pre-1700 assailȝe, pre-1700 assaill, pre-1700 assale, pre-1700 assall. Origin: Probably formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: assail v.¹ Etymology: Probably < assail v.¹ Compare Anglo-Norman and Middle French assaillie (second half of the 12th cent. in Old French; < feminine of the past participle of assaillir assail v.¹), and also Anglo-Norman and Middle French (rare) assaille (last quarter of the 12th cent. in Anglo-Norman, c1350 in continental French; < assaillir assail v.¹), Old Occitan assalh (12th cent.), all in same sense. Compare earlier assailing n. Now archaic. Assault, attack; (as a count noun) an assault, an attack. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > attack > [noun] fiend-reseOE frumresec1275 assault1297 sault1297 inracea1300 sailing13.. venuea1330 checkc1330 braid1340 affrayc1380 outrunningc1384 resinga1387 wara1387 riota1393 assailc1400 assayc1400 onset1423 rake?a1425 pursuitc1425 assemblinga1450 brunta1450 oncominga1450 assembly1487 envaya1500 oncomea1500 shovea1500 front1523 scry1523 attemptate1524 assaulting1548 push1565 brash1573 attempt1584 affront?1587 pulse1587 affret1590 saliaunce1590 invasion1591 assailment1592 insultation1596 aggressa1611 onslaught1613 source1616 confronta1626 impulsion1631 tentative1632 essaya1641 infall1645 attack1655 stroke1698 insult1710 coup de main1759 onfall1837 hurrah1841 beat-up of quarters1870 offensive1887 strafe1915 grand slam1916 hop-over1918 run1941 strike1942 c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) l. 2137 Leteþ hem passen wiþouten assaile, And siweþ me, after my taile. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) ix. 350 The toun wes hard to ta Vith oppyn assale [1489 Adv. opyn sawt strenth]. a1500 (?a1325) Otuel & Roland (1935) l. 1084 (MED) That þe soth men wel knewe, þat weren at þat assayle. 1554 D. Lindsay Dialog Experience & Courteour l. 3980 in Wks. (1931) I Duryng the tyme of this assailȝe. 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 1269 Some cities forced by assaile. 1653 E. Gee Treat. Prayer To Rdr. sig. A5^v Whereas this weighty Case is not..duly minded, and layed to heart, his weak assail of it may excite Christians to take more notice of it. 1768 B. Thornton Battle of Wigs iii. 17 Rous'd from his torpor joins in fierce assails. a1788 R. Colvill Poet. Wks. (1789) ii. 178 A hideous Fury next, with dire assail Of flaming brand. 1813 J. Hogg Queen's Wake iii. xvi. 275 As oft recoiled from flank assail. 1846 R. H. Horne Ballad Romances 141 He scorn'd unconquering to retire, Though stronger grew the assail. 1917 H. Macfall Germany at Bay i. 7 The people..will be best fitted to stand the assail of any other aristocracy or democracy. 1996 Internat. Peacekeeping Winter 27 Initial signs of instability were gradually crystallized in deliberate assails on the federal system. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2018; most recently modified version published online December 2021). assailv.¹ Brit. /əˈseɪl/, U.S. /əˈseɪl/ Forms: early Middle English asaleð (3rd singular indicative, transmission error), Middle English asaȝile, Middle English asailȝe, Middle English asaille, Middle English asailli, Middle English asayl, Middle English asayli, Middle English asaylle, Middle English asaylly, Middle English aseyl, Middle English assailȝe, Middle English assale, Middle English assaylle, Middle English asseile, Middle English asseille, Middle English–1500s asaile, Middle English–1500s asseyle, Middle English–1600s asayle, Middle English–1600s assaile, Middle English–1600s assaill, Middle English–1600s assaille, Middle English–1600s assayl, Middle English–1600s assayle, late Middle English asale (northern), 1500s asseil, 1500s– assail; also Scottish pre-1700 assailȝe, pre-1700 assailȝie, pre-1700 assailie, pre-1700 assailye, pre-1700 assailyie, pre-1700 assale, pre-1700 assalȝe, pre-1700 assayhle, pre-1700 assayleyhe, pre-1700 asseilȝe, pre-1700 asseill, pre-1700 asseilye, pre-1700 asselȝe, pre-1700 asselȝie, 1800s assailzie (archaic). Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French assailir. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman assailir, assailler, asseiller, assallir, asailer, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French assaillir, asaillir, Anglo-Norman and Middle French assalir, Middle French asalir (French assaillir ) to attack (a person or thing) physically (10th cent.), to tempt, try (a person) (late 12th cent.), (of a mental state, sense impression, etc.) to come upon or affect (a person) strongly and suddenly (late 12th cent.), (of an animal) to mount (a female) (late 13th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman, a1403 in continental French), to attack (a person) with hostile or antagonistic words (mid 14th cent. or earlier), to pursue (a woman) romantically (second half of the 15th cent.) < post-classical Latin adsalire (also assalire ) to assault (6th cent. in Salic Law; frequently from 11th cent. in British sources), (of a stallion) to mount (a mare) (14th cent. in a British source) < classical Latin ad- ad- prefix + salīre to leap, spring (see salient adj.), as alteration of classical Latin assilīre , also adsilīre (a formation from the same elements, with reduction of the vowel in the second syllable). Compare Old Occitan asalhir , assalhir (12th cent.), Spanish (rare) †assalir , †asalir (12th cent.; perhaps < Old Occitan), Italian assalire (first half of the 13th cent.). Compare sail v.², and also assault n., assault v.This word shows some semantic overlap with assay v., and was probably influenced by it in senses 3a and 3b, which do not appear to be paralleled in French. Although the semantic overlap also occurs in senses relating to temptation, early uses of the English verb in these senses are best taken as extended uses of the physical ‘attack’ sense, as in French. I. To attack, and related senses. †1. transitive. To harass, incite, or lure with temptation; to tempt, to try. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)] > attack spiritually assailc1225 saila1300 assaulta1535 the mind > will > motivation > attraction, allurement, or enticement > attract, allure, or entice [verb (transitive)] > tempt afondOE fandOE assailc1225 temptc1230 tenta1250 attempta1513 assay1532 assaulta1535 attack1655 c1225 (?c1200) Hali Meiðhad (Bodl.) (1940) 705 Ne schalt tu beon icrunet bute þu beo asailet [a1250 Titus asailȝet]. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 249 He [sc. the devil] asaylede þane uerste man be þe mouþe. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xix. l. 221 (MED) Whan antecryst ȝow assailleth. 1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) lxii. 92 Grete and euylle temptacions shall befyght and assaylle yow. 1564 T. Becon New Catech. in Catech. & Other Pieces (1844) 190 But doth God assail sinners only with this temptation of adversity? 1594 Willobie his Auisa Ep. Ded. sig. 2^v Such lewd chapmen as..assayle the Chastity of honest women. 1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue* ii. v. 288 A cruell squadron of sore and fierce enemies..hotly assaile vs with the sweet enticements of sin. 1791 Advice to Unmarried Women 37 Ruin must ensue if you have not the resolution to withstand the bribes with which your virtue is assailed. 1810 E. Moor Hindu Pantheon 235 Devi first assailed him in the alluring forms of sixty-four yoginis, or female anchorets. 1880 Quiver 15 421/1 When bitter temptations assail,..the sorely bestead soldier cries out, ‘Lord, I believe, help Thou mine unbelief,’ and the enemy's power is broken. 1907 W. Sanday Life Christ in Recent Res. i. 28 There are three scenes in which the Son of God is assailed by the Tempter. 2. a. transitive. To attack with physical violence; to assault. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > attack > attack [verb (transitive)] greetc893 overfallOE riseOE assail?c1225 to lay on or upon?c1225 onseekc1275 to set on ——c1290 infighta1300 saila1300 to go upon ——c1300 to turn one's handc1325 lashc1330 annoyc1380 impugnc1384 offendc1385 to fall on ——a1387 sault1387 affrayc1390 to set upon ——1390 to fall upon ——a1398 to lay at?a1400 semblea1400 assayc1400 havec1400 aset1413 oppressa1425 attachc1425 to set at ——c1430 fraya1440 fray1465 oppugn?a1475 sayc1475 envaye1477 pursue1488 envahisshe1489 assaulta1500 to lay to, untoa1500 requirea1500 enterprise?1510 invade1513 assemblec1515 expugn1530 to fare on1535 to fall into ——1550 mount1568 attack?1576 affront1579 invest1598 canvass1599 to take arms1604 attempt1605 to make force at, to, upon1607 salute1609 offence1614 strikea1616 to give a lift at1622 to get at ——1650 insult1697 to walk into ——1794 to go in at1812 to go for ——1838 to light on ——1842 strafe1915 the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)] assail?c1225 to set on ——c1290 saila1300 to turn one's handc1325 lashc1330 to set against ——c1330 impugnc1384 offendc1385 weighc1386 checka1400 to lay at?a1400 havec1400 to set at ——c1430 fraya1440 rehetea1450 besail1460 fray1465 tuilyie1487 assaulta1500 enterprise?1510 invade1513 sturt1513 attempt1546 lay1580 tilt1589 to fall aboard——1593 yoke1596 to let into1598 to fall foul1602 attack1655 do1780 to go in at1812 to pitch into ——1823 tackle1828 vampire1832 bushwhack1837 to go for ——1838 take1864 pile1867 volcano1867 to set about ——1879 vampirize1888 to get stuck into1910 to take to ——1911 weigh1941 rugby-tackle1967 rugger-tackle1967 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 51 Hwil me wið quarreus vtewið assailleð þe castel. c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 1862 Þe laddes..Him asayleden wit grete dintes. c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 8120 Hii bigonne..þen toun to asaili [c1425 Harl. asaly]. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) ii. l. 1838 (MED) He goth and hath the feld assailed. a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xii. l. 359 That ȝate Asailled ne Myhte not ben. 1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) iii. 151 Wes nane..That durst assailȝe him mar in fycht. 1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid ix. ii. 17 Gif thai assailȝeit wer..be hard fortoun of weyr. 1555 R. Eden in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 91 Vaschus..exhorted his men..fiercely to assayle theyr enemies. 1600 E. Blount tr. G. F. di Conestaggio Hist. Uniting Portugall to Castill 132 To assaile the entrie of the mouth of Lisbone. 1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1165 No worthy match For valour to assail . View more context for this quotation 1713 R. Steele Englishman No. 12. 77 It is for the Vulgar to assail one another like brute Beasts. 1797 E. Pellew Let. in Mariner′s Mirror (1913) 3 89/1 A heavy fire of musketry assailed us. 1841 T. J. Serle Joan of Arc II. xxi. 320 Perhaps it is not with wearied men that we should assail the enemy. 1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People i. §2. 15 This district was assailed at once from the north and from the south. 1920 H. V. Lovett Hist. Indian Nationalist Movement iii. 69 The Moderates were pushed out of a hall and assailed with stones and mud. 1948 Kenyon Rev. 10 149 Most of the French were..expecting to be assailed by atomic bombs or Russian tanks at any moment. 2013 P. K. Davis Masters of Battlefield ix. 238 Žižka decided to launch an ambitious surprise attack, assailing the enemy leader's headquarters at sunrise. b. intransitive. To make a physical attack or assault. Now rare. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > attack > attack [verb (intransitive)] to lay ona1225 assailc1325 sailc1330 assemblea1375 to fall inc1384 to fall ona1387 givec1430 brunt1440 to set (all) on sevenc1440 to ding on1487 to fall down1534 offend1540 to go on1553 to give on?1611 to let fly1611 strikea1616 insult1638 to set on1670 aggress1708 to carry the war into the enemy's camp1791 hop over1929 c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 8130 As noblemen, hii assailede [c1425 Harl. asaylede] euere vaste. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) Prol. l. 727 Wher Rome thanne wolde assaille, Ther myhte nothing contrevaille, Bot every contre moste obeie. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) ix. 31 Gif thai assalȝe [1489 Adv. assaile], we mon defend. a1500 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Rawl.) (1896) 37 (MED) He..callid the wepenyd men to the assaute and thay egyrly assaylid. 1567 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure II. xiv. f. 91 When they came to entre battell, they assailed confusedly. 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xxxi. 801 As they assailed in sundrie places; so their manner of assailing was much different. 1649 Great & Bloudy Fight at Sea 2 They assayled so far, that..they forced the enemy under Decks. 1749 G. West tr. Euripides Iphigenia in Tauris ii, in tr. Pindar Odes 154 With flinty Show'rs On ev'ry Part assailing, from their Hands Their shining Blades we beat. 1863 W. Roberts Hist. U.S. (rev. ed.) 274 Who assailed on the right? 1919 19th Cent. & After Nov. 980 The foe tried his luck with bombs, assailing from three sides. 1944 N.Y. Times 26 July 2/7 The garrison of Lublin opposed with dogged resistance the enemy who is assailing from all sides with superior forces. †3. a. transitive. To attempt (something). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > undertaking > undertake [verb (transitive)] > something risky afondc1300 assailc1300 adventurea1387 to venture on (also upon1557 venture1559 venture1598 peril1849 the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > make experiment of or with [verb (transitive)] afondc1300 assailc1300 found1340 assay1377 taste1382 experiment1524 experience1541 try1545 attempt1563 practise1632 explore1667 experimentate1670 to taste of1700 to try out1888 to try (something)(on) for size1979 fand- c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) l. 856 (MED) Þe ilke bataille Cutberd gan assaille: He ȝaf dentes inoȝe. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Macc. ii. 25 We byholdynge the multitude of bookis, and hardnesse, to men willynge for to assaile [L. adgredi], or bygynne, the tellyngis of stories. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) ii. l. 2620 The Soldan hath the feld assailed. ?c1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (Paris) (1971) 1 Assailynge [?a1425 N.Y. Acad. Med. assaiyng; L. aggrediens] an exposicioun..of þe crafte of cirurgye. c1440 Sir Degrevant (Thornton) (1949) l. 1090 Þare was none so hardy Þat durste assayle þat cry. 1595 G. Markham Most Honorable Trag. Sir R. Grinuile sig. E4 None darring to assayle a second fight. b. transitive. With infinitive as object. To attempt or endeavour (to do something). Obsolete (archaic or poetic in later use). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > endeavour > make an attempt or endeavour [verb (intransitive)] > to do something cuneOE seekc1000 fanda1225 suec1325 tastec1330 enforcec1340 study1340 temptc1384 intendc1385 assaila1393 proffera1393 to make meansc1395 search?a1400 fraistc1400 pursuec1400 to go aboutc1405 pretend1482 attempta1513 essay?1515 attend1523 regarda1533 offer1541 frame1545 to stand about1549 to put into (also in) practice1592 prove1612 imitate1626 snap1766 begin1833 make1880 a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vi. l. 1308 (MED) With Nigromance he wole assaile To make his incantacioun. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 3953 Which han assailed hym to shende And with her trowandyse to blynde. 1562 tr. Damiano da Odemira Pleasaunt Playe of Cheasts v. sig. E.v^v Assailing to breake thy defences. 1585 R. Greene Planetomachia sig. G2^v All desirous of gaine and glorie..assailed to winne the price. 1606 G. W. tr. Justinus Hist. xxxviii. f. 122^v Hee assailed to steale home into his kingdome. 1655 J. Lightfoot Harmony New-Test. ii. 139 He assails to take the Ile of Man. 1785 E. Perronet Occas. Verses 140 But here digress'd, we now assail To end the moral of the tale. 1841 W. Ware Julian II. xix. 188 He does the works of God, while he assails to overthrow it, the truth of God. 1874 B. P. Shillaber Lines in Pleasant Places 261 Fierce storms assail to drive thee thence. c. transitive. To put to the test. Also with subordinate clause as object. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > trial, test, or testing > try or test [verb (transitive)] fandc893 costeneOE afondOE provea1200 fraista1300 assay1330 sayc1330 try1362 approvec1380 examinea1382 winnowa1382 tempt1382 tastea1400 assailc1405 essay1484 scryc1615 sensea1688 test1748 trial1981 dogfood1997 c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Clerk's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) Envoy l. 4 No wedded man so hardy be tassaille [c1465 Huntington HM 140 tassey] His wyues pacience. a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) i. l. 3362 The serpent hym felly wolde assaile With a problem..Callid off summe an vnkouth dyuynaile. c1540 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece Hyst. & Cron. Scotl. i. viii. f. 7^v/1 Delite ȝe ony forther to assailȝe gif ony band may be kepit with vnfaithfull pepyll? 4. a. transitive. Of a physical, emotional, or mental state: to come upon or affect strongly and suddenly; to (threaten to) overcome; to afflict. Also intransitive. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > quality of affecting the emotions > affect with emotion [verb (transitive)] > seize or strike (of an emotion) assaila1393 supprisea1413 strike1533 infecta1586 seize1845 a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 377 (MED) Thurst and hunger him assaileth. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. ii. l. 96 Til slepe hem assaille. a1450 Generides (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) l. 1694 Ther had he rest but small, So loue assaled him ouerall. a1500 (?a1449) J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 704 (MED) [If you overeat] be war that non accesse Nor vncouth agew vnwarely the assaile. 1561 tr. J. Calvin Foure Godlye Serm. Idolatries iii. sig. G.vi The brute beastes..do crye for fode whan hounger, assaileth. 1596 Z. Jones tr. J. de Lavardin Hist. Scanderbeg 8 An incredible kind of care intermingled with griefe did assaile the hearts of the regardants. a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) v. vii. 9 That fell poison which assayleth him. View more context for this quotation 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 294 New Pangs of mortal Fear our Minds assail. 1760 J. C. Pilkington Real Story 17 Fatigue and hunger then very closely assailed me. 1779 J. Newton in J. Newton & W. Cowper Olney Hymns i. vii. 8 Tho' troubles assail And dangers affright. 1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. ii, in Poems 79 Compassion first assail'd her gentle Heart. 1899 F. Morgan tr. C. Cantù Isotta in Universal Anthol. 30 332 Love, jealousy, pride, fury, assailed her all at once. 1911 Twentieth Cent. Mag. Mar. 529/1 When doubts assailed,..her faith appears to have given way to fear. 1961 Times 12 June 15/4 That imprisoned feeling that assails the most devoted mother of small children. 2008 Herald (Glasgow) (Nexis) 1 Nov. (Mag.) 12 A clever man assailed by self-doubt and insecurity. b. transitive. Of a thing or phenomenon, esp. a sense impression: to strike or come upon suddenly and forcefully, esp. with a negative effect (by being harmful, offensive, unpleasant, etc.).In quot. 1667 with the personification of Chaos as the subject. ΚΠ a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) i. l. 1154 (MED) The ston, the syment wer maad off such mateer, And the ioynyng so stedfast and enteer, Thouh fir and watir bothe it dede assaile, Ful lite or nouht ther power sholde auaile. 1595 H. Chettle Piers Plainnes Prentiship sig. H3 A storme..assailed vs, driuing our smal boate against a rocke. c1614 W. Mure tr. Virgil Dido & Æneas i. in Wks. (1898) I. 273 The tumbling billowes fast her syddes assaill. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 417 And [Chaos] with rebounding surge the barrs assaild, That scorn'd his indignation. View more context for this quotation 1745 J. Brown Ess. Satire ii. 19 The muse's charms with surest force assail, When wrapt in Irony's transparent veil. 1771 E. Griffith tr. ‘P. Viaud’ Shipwreck 151 The horrid din which assailed our ears. a1800 W. Cowper tr. J. M. B. de la M. Guyon Poems (1801) 75 No rude noise mine ears assailing. 1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. §3. 31 We were assailed by a violent hailstorm. 1953 Cosmos Sci. Fiction & Fantasy Mag. Nov. 83 A chant rose to assail his ears. 1982 S. K. Penman Sunne in Splendour (1984) iv. xxi. 789 She gasped suddenly as the stench of gutted entrails and offal assailed her nostrils. 2008 Alberni Valley (Brit. Columbia) Times (Nexis) 30 July 5 Today when I drive west on Highway 4, I remember the sight that assailed my eyes years ago. 5. a. transitive. To attack (esp. a person) with hostile or antagonistic words; to speak or write against; to criticize strongly. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > statement > speaking against or contradiction > speak against or contradict [verb (transitive)] > hostilely assail?c1400 assault1561 ?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) i. pr. iii. l. 180 Trowest þou þat philosophi be now alþerfirst assailed in perils by folk of wicked [emended in ed. to wickede] maneres? a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 5295 If men wolen hym assayle..And hyndren hym of his Renoun. 1541 R. Whitford Dyuers Holy Instrucyons & Teachynges xvi. f. 32 She assayled him w^t vpbraydes and rebukes. 1595 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 i. i. 65 Here in the Parlement, Let vs assaile the familie of Yorke. 1689 T. Rogers Lux Occidentalis Pref. sig. A4 They found it necessary..to libel her honour, and assail her reputation. 1717 A. Pope Occasion'd by Some Verses in Wks. 414 Let crowds of criticks now my verse assail. 1794 C. Smith Wanderings of Warwick vii. 149 He represented to me, that..it would be unworthy of me to assail him with words of reproach. 1819 Times 4 Aug. Some hard-bitten fellow assailed the orator with a line from Swift, ‘Fine words—I wonder where you stole 'em’. 1855 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Philip II of Spain I. ii. vii. 439 Assailing the fallen minister with libels, lampoons, and caricatures. 1942 Amer. Observer 9 Feb. 5/4 He has been assailed by some critics as a ‘reactionary’ politician who has divorced Eire from Britain only to set up a tight little dictatorship in Dublin. 1983 P. Ackroyd Last Test. Oscar Wilde 41 We assailed each other with extravagant phrases. 2012 N.Y. Mag. 11 June 53/3 In 2004, he wrote ‘A Fighting Faith’..which assailed his fellow liberals..for being insufficiently hawkish. b. transitive. To speak out against, challenge, or oppose (a belief, practice, etc.). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)] > attack with hostile words or measures > specific institutions, customs, or opinions assail1532 1532 R. Whitford Pype or Tonne f. ccvi Y^e ghostly enemy is more busy & labourious to assayle, trouble, & destroy this chastite, than any other. 1557 W. Baldwin & T. Palfreyman Treat. Morall Philos. (new ed.) iii. x. f. 101^v They that be euill..beare..armes offensiue, to assaile the good maners of other. 1637 J. Milton Comus 20 Vertue may be assail'd, but never hurt. 1698 Answer to Mr. Molyneux 167 Subjects that so rashly undertake to..assail the Authority of a powerful Kingdom. 1774 J. Priestley Exam. Dr. Reid's Inq. i. xiii. 117 Religion, though assailed from so many quarters as it has been of late, is under no necessity of taking refuge in such untenable fortresses. 1844 Ld. Brougham Brit. Constit. viii. 104 Choosing to assail the religion of the people before he had destroyed their liberty. 1878 Examiner 19 Oct. 1329/1 We assail conventionalities and conformities with our pens, or our tongues, or our overt acts, or, it may be, the cut of our clothes. 1958 M. Keller In Def. of Yesterday iii. 91 He attacked the Progressive party for assailing ‘the very fundamentals of the Constitution’ in its support of the recall of judges. 2000 Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minnesota) 1 Jan. 12 e 19th century religious belief is assailed by Charles Darwin (theories of evolution). 6. transitive. To (attempt to) persuade, convince, or controvert with reasoning or argument. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > putting forward for discussion > put forward [verb (transitive)] > attack with arguments objectc1460 assaila1500 assault1551 wring1567 contestate?1572 question1613 join1632 contest1663 concert1689 a1500 (?a1400) Morte Arthur (1903) l. 2674 (MED) The kynge the messyngere thus did assayle: ‘It were pite to sette warre vs by-twene.’ 1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. i. 29 Let vs once againe Assaile your eares that are so fortified. 1695 R. Blackmore Prince Arthur i. 2 Nor did his Arts in vain weak Man assail. 1791 T. Jefferson Let. 31 Mar. in Writings (1853) III. 232 They would assail us on the subject of the treaty. 1833 H. Martineau Manch. Strike (new ed.) x. 114 She assailed her husband on the subject of taking work. 1875 Dundee Courier & Argus 27 Jan. The Act..places the Church in a position in which it cannot be successfully assailed by any argument except that which is based on the plea of equality. 1927 Classical Weekly 3 Jan. 76/1 After thus assailing the materialists of his day, Cicero turns to the ascetics. 1985 P. D. Nelson A. Wayne xi. 228 Men on all sides assailed him with arguments against the Washington administration's recently imposed excise tax on whiskey. 2012 A. Bergen 100 Years Vicissitude xi. 86 I think I'm going to assail you with a good lecture. †7. transitive. To pursue romantically; to court, to woo. Also occasionally intransitive. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > flirtation or coquetry > flirt with [verb (transitive)] > try determinedly to gain (someone's) affections > assail with love proposals assayc1550 assail1581 1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. iii. f. 19^v It behoueth an honest woman to shew her selfe so sober and chast in countenance, that no man may be so hardie to assayle her. 1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets xli. sig. D^v Beautious thou art, therefore to be assailed . View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) ii. iii. 37 I haue assayl'd her with Musickes. View more context for this quotation 1662 M. W. Marriage Broaker v. i. 81 Like to the warlike Ram I will assail her So fiercely, that she shall not dare resist. 1718 C. Molloy Coquet ii. 26 You must assail her with all the moving Powers of Art and Eloquence, the same you practise where you really design a Conquest. 1765 R. Cumberland Summer's Tale iii. vi. 81 With such Art assailing, You are so prevailing I must yield both Heart and Hand. 8. transitive. To approach (an obstacle, task, etc.) with the intention of mastering it; to make a concerted effort on; to tackle. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > undertaking > undertake [verb (transitive)] > something difficult assail1582 assay?1606 attack1689 1582 R. Robinson tr. J. Leland Learned Assertion Life Prince Arthure xv. f. 27 Then aduance Will I, That high Parnassus mount for to assaile. a1680 S. Butler Genuine Remains (1759) I. 3 The lofty Tube, the Scale With which they Heav'n itself assail, Was mounted full against the Moon. 1726 E. Fenton in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey IV. xix. 508 The thorny wilds the wood-men fierce assail. 1797 Crit. Rev. Mar. 308 Five times have we assailed the three quarto volumes, but in vain. 1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. §25. 182 Assailing the rocks at their base, and climbing them to the cabin. 1894 Chautauquan Apr. 27/1 Ethnology..investigates the origin of races and assails the problem of the unity of man. 1914 P. G. Wodehouse White Hope vii, in Munsey's Mag. May 836/1 When a lazy man does make up his mind to assail a piece of work, he is like a dog with a bone. 1968 T. E. Y. Seddon Seddons viii. 184 Workmen valiantly assailed the job and met one reverse after another. 2001 Vancouver Province (Nexis) 21 June b12 Assailing the world's tallest peak..is a deadly serious undertaking. †II. To copulate with. 9. transitive. Of a male animal: to copulate with (a female). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride (a horse or other animal) [verb (transitive)] > mount (a horse or other animal) > mount by leaping assaila1387 vault1538 breast1802 a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 179 Darius..charged hem þat he schulde make his hors assaile a mare þat nyȝt. a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xxiii. 422 xij lyonsewes..com in to the courte to the sowe, and assailed hir oon after a-nother. 1601 L.W.C. Verie Perfect Disc. Horse 22 For swelling of the Coddes. Let him assaile a Mare, and giue him no prouender. 1614 T. S. Iewell for Gentrie sig. O4 The seauenth yeere he will auaile great Bitches to assaile. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2018; most recently modified version published online December 2021). † assailv.² Forms: late Middle English asaile, late Middle English assayle. Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: a- prefix¹, sail v.¹ Etymology: < a- prefix¹ + sail v.¹ Obsolete. intransitive. To sail. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > [verb (intransitive)] sailc893 lithec900 fleetc1275 ship13.. assailc1450 waft?a1562 sneir1568 sulk1579 single1587 navigate1588 waff1611 passage1791 c1450 (c1380) G. Chaucer House of Fame (Fairf. 16) (1878) l. 434 Thoo sawgh I grave [= pictured] how that to Itayle Daun Eneas is goo for to assayle [c1475 Bodl. 638 assayle, 1483 Caxton saylle, 1532 Thynne sayle]. a1500 Warkworth's Chron. (1839) 26 And rode into Scottlonde, and frome thens into Fraunce asailed. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2018; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < n.c1400v.¹c1225v.²c1450
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assailn.

assailv.1

† assailv.2

assailv.¹

† assailv.²