assail

assail
[[t]əse͟ɪl[/t]]
assails, assailing, assailed
1) VERB If someone assails you, they criticize you strongly. [WRITTEN]

[V n] The opposition's newspapers assail the government each day...

[V n] The labour movement has been assailed by accusations of sexism and demands for change from feminists.

Syn:
2) VERB If someone assails you, they attack you violently. [WRITTEN]

[V n] Dividing his command, Morgan assailed both strongholds at the same time...

[V n] Her husband was assailed by a young man with a knife in a Glasgow park.

Syn:
3) VERB: usu passive If you are assailed by something unpleasant such as fears or problems, you are greatly troubled by a large number of them. [WRITTEN]

[be V-ed] She is assailed by self-doubt and emotional insecurity.

Syn:
4) VERB (emphasis) If you say that a loud sound or a strong smell assails someone's ears or nostrils, you are emphasizing that it is very intense and seems shocking or unpleasant. [WRITTEN]

[V n] The scent of burning metal assailed his nostrils.


English dictionary. 2008.

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  • 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.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Assail — may refer to:* Assail (Malazan), a continent in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series * HMAS Assail (P 89), an Attack class patrol boat * USS Assail (AM 147), an Admirable class minesweeperee also* Assail Bank * Assailant …   Wikipedia

  • assail — (v.) c.1200, from O.Fr. assalir attack, assault, assail (12c., Mod.Fr. assaillir), from V.L. *adsalire to leap at, from L. ad at (see AD (Cf. ad )) + salire to leap (see SALIENT (Cf. salient)). Figurative use from mid 14c. Related …   Etymology dictionary

  • assail — I verb accost, adgredi, adoriri, advance against, advance upon, aggress, assault, assault belligerently, attack, beset, encounter, fall upon, invade, mug, oppugn, oppugnare, rush upon, savage, set upon, set upon with violence, storm, thrust at,… …   Law dictionary

  • assail — bombard, *attack, assault, storm Analogous words: beset (see INFEST): belabor, pummel, buffet, pound, *beat …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • assail — [v] attack, usually with words abuse, assault, bash, berate, beset, blast, blister, bust, charge, come at, criticize, encounter, have at*, impugn, invade, lambaste, lay into*, malign, maltreat, molest, revile, set upon*, trash*, vilify, work… …   New thesaurus

  • assail — ► VERB 1) attack violently. 2) (of an unpleasant feeling) come upon (someone) strongly. ORIGIN Latin assalire, from salire to leap …   English terms dictionary

  • assail — [ə sāl′] vt. [ME assailen < OFr asaillir < VL assalire, for L assilire, to leap on < ad , to + salire, to leap: see SALIENT] 1. to attack physically and violently; assault 2. to attack with arguments, questions, doubts, etc. 3. to begin… …   English World dictionary

  • assail — v. (formal) to assail bitterly * * * [ə seɪl] (formal) to assail bitterly …   Combinatory dictionary

  • assail — UK [əˈseɪl] / US verb [transitive] Word forms assail : present tense I/you/we/they assail he/she/it assails present participle assailing past tense assailed past participle assailed 1) to make someone feel worried or upset He was assailed by… …   English dictionary

  • assail — assailable, adj. assailableness, n. assailer, n. assailment, n. /euh sayl /, v.t. 1. to attack vigorously or violently; assault. 2. to attack with arguments, criticism, ridicule, abuse, etc.: to assail one s opponent with slander …   Universalium

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