Assailment

as·sail  (-sl)

tr.v. as·sailed, as·sail·ing, as·sails

1. To attack with or as if with violent blows; assault.

2. To attack verbally, as with ridicule or censure. See Synonyms at attack.

3. To trouble; beset: was assailed by doubts.

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[Middle English assailen, from Old French asalir, asaill-, from Vulgar Latin *assalre, variant of Latin assilre, to jump on : ad-, onto; see ad- + salre, to jump; see sel- in Indo-European roots.]

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as·saila·ble adj.

as·saila·bili·ty n.

as·sailer n.

as·sailment n.