assault English · revision 5360

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1297|origins=la assilire}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /əˈsɔːlt/, /əˈsɒlt/, US /əˈsɔːlt/, /əˈsɑːlt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|assaut|alt=asaut, assaut]], [[bor|fro|asaut|alt=asaut, assaut|t=attack]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from Vulgar Latin *assaltus,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from Latin ad- “to” and saltāre, a frequentative of salīre “to leap”.^(NODE 1998)^(Hoad 1986) The -l- was restored after Latin, as in fault and vault.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[assail]], [[salient]] and [[sally]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A hostile rush upon someone, and the charge of a force against the walls of a city: 1297 in the OED.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Etymonline has the form asaut from about 1200, and an attack by spiritual enemies, a temptation, is from about 1230.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ An unlawful attack on a person is from 1447–8,^(OED 1989) and in law it is by the 1580s.^(Etymonline) Historically, an assault in law included threatening words or actions with present means to carry them out, while battery is an actual blow.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) An attack on institutions or opinions is from about 1449,^(OED 1989) and a fencing bout from 1694.^(OED 1989) The verb, to attack physically, is from the early 15th century (about 1410 in Barnhart).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The spelling saulte is in Palsgrave in 1530.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1297 – an attack.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1410 – verb.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1447–8 – an unlawful attack on a person.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1580s – in law.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1694 – in fencing.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A violent physical attack on someone.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(law)'' A threat or attempt to harm someone, sometimes including the use of force.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A military attack, especially on a fortified place.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A strong verbal attack or [[criticism]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To attack someone violently.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To rape.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[assaulter]]

+ * [[assaultable]]

+ * [[counterassault]]

+ * [[nonassault]]

+ * [[unassaulted]]

+ * [[assaultive]]

+ * [[aggravated assault]]

+ * [[assault and battery]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[assail]]

+ * [[salient]]

+ * [[sally]]

+ * [[somersault]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}