Assault

Definitions

1. A violent onset or attack with physical means, for example blows, weapons, etc.
   countable, uncountable
2. A violent verbal attack, for example with insults, criticism, and the like
   countable, uncountable
3. An attempt to commit battery: a violent attempt, or willful effort with force or violence, to do hurt to another, but without necessarily touching the person, such as by raising a fist in a threatening manner, or by striking at the person and missing.
   countable, uncountable
4. The crime whose action is such an attempt.
   countable, singular, singular-only, uncountable
5. An act that causes someone to apprehend imminent bodily harm (such as brandishing a weapon).
   countable, uncountable
6. The tort whose action is such an act.
   countable, singular, singular-only, uncountable
7. A non-competitive combat between two fencers.
   countable, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“The army made an assault on the enemy.”

“The Spanish general prepared to renew the assault.”

“Unshaken bears the assault / Of their most dreaded foe, the strong southwest.”

“Hostilities peaked with the Skyllian Blitz of 2176, an attack on the human capital of Elysium by batarian-funded pirates and slavers. In 2178, the Alliance retaliated with a crushing assault on the moon of Torfan, long used as a staging base⟳ by batarian-backed criminals. In the aftermath, the batarians retreated into their own⟳ systems, and are now rarely seen in Citadel space.”

“She launched a written assault on the opposition party.”

CEFR level