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tr.v. as·sailed, as·sail·ing, as·sails 1. To attack violently, as with blows or military force; assault. 2. To attack verbally, as with ridicule or censure. See Synonyms at attack. 3. To trouble or beset, as with questions or doubts. [Middle English assailen, from Old French asalir, asaill-, from Vulgar Latin *assalīre, variant of Latin assilīre, to jump on : ad-, onto; see AD- + salīre, to jump; see sel- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] as·saila·ble adj. as·sail′a·bili·ty n. as·sailer n. as·sailment n. |
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