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.

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.

Etymology: < a- prefix¹ + sail v.¹