Assail
/əˈseɪl/noun
To attack or assault violently, or to confront forcefully with criticism or emotion.
Did you know?Assail comes through Old French from Latin *assilīre*, built from *ad-* “to” + *salīre* “to leap,” so the word’s oldest image is not just attack, but a sudden pounce.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sel-
“to jump, leap”
Latin
Latin
assilīre
“to leap at, spring upon”
Old French
Old French
assaillir
“to attack, assault”
Middle English
English
assaillen
“to attack violently”
Modern English
English
assail
“to attack or confront forcefully”
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