assail

Etymology

Old French verb asaillir, from Latin assiliō, from ad (“towards”) + saliō (“to jump”). See also assault.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪl

Verb

assail (third-person singular simple present assails, present participle assailing, simple past and past participle assailed)

1. To attack violently using words or force.

   Muggers assailed them as they entered an alley.

   For the next six months or so those children will assail her in public with demands for an improper story! (from H.H. Munro's short story, "The Storyteller").

Anagrams

• Alissa