Assassin
/əˈsæs.ɪn/noun
A person who murders a prominent or important person, usually for political or ideological reasons.
Did you know?The term was first used in medieval Europe for members of the Nizari Ismaili sect, and later writers linked it—controversially and probably inaccurately—to Arabic *hashīshiyyīn*, a label that became part history, part propaganda.
Etymological Timeline
12th Century
Arabic/Medieval Latin
hashīshiyyīn / assassinus
“A label used in hostile medieval accounts for a feared sect of political killers; the exact origin is disputed.”
13th Century
Old French
assassin
“A hired or secret killer.”
14th Century
Italian
assassino
“A murderer, especially one who kills by stealth.”
14th Century
English
assassin
“A murderer who kills secretly or for political purposes.”
Modern English
English
assassin
“A person who murders a prominent target, often for political motives.”