Assailed: meaning, definitions and examples

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assailed

 

[ əˈseɪld ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

attack, criticize

Assailed is the past tense of 'assail', which means to attack someone violently or to criticize someone strongly. This term can refer to both physical attacks and verbal onslaughts, making it a versatile descriptor for various forms of aggression. In a historical context, it often denotes significant confrontations or battles, but in modern usage, it can describe anything from personal disputes to public criticism. Assailing someone can leave a lasting impression and often signifies a serious disagreement or challenge.

Synonyms

assaulted, attacked, bombarded, criticized

Examples of usage

  • The soldier was assailed by enemy forces at dawn.
  • The writer was assailed by critics for her controversial views.
  • He assailed the assumptions about his abilities with strong arguments.

Translations

Translations of the word "assailed" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ataque

🇮🇳 हमला किया

🇩🇪 angegriffen

🇮🇩 diserang

🇺🇦 напав

🇵🇱 zaatakowany

🇯🇵 襲撃された

🇫🇷 attaqué

🇪🇸 asaltado

🇹🇷 saldırıya uğramış

🇰🇷 공격당한

🇸🇦 مهاجم

🇨🇿 napadený

🇸🇰 napadnutý

🇨🇳 袭击的

🇸🇮 napaden

🇮🇸 árás á

🇰🇿 шабуыл жасалған

🇬🇪 შეტევა

🇦🇿 hücum edilmiş

🇲🇽 asaltado

Etymology

The word 'assail' originates from the Latin verb 'assailare', which combines 'ad-' meaning 'to, toward' and 'salire' meaning 'to leap'. This compound formation indicates the sense of 'leaping toward' someone or something to attack or criticize. 'Assail' has passed through Old French as 'assaillir', before entering the English language in the late 14th century. Historically, it has been used in both literal and metaphorical contexts, signifying both physical confrontations, such as in battles and duels, and verbal attacks, like public disputes or critiques. The term has retained its weighty connotation throughout its evolution, remaining a powerful term to describe forms of aggression in contemporary usage.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #12,408, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.