Assail — Defs

01 v. t. To attack with violence, or in a vehement and hostile manner; to assault; to molest; as, to assail a man with blows; to assail a city with …

imp. & p. p. Assailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Assailing

1.
To attack with violence, or in a vehement and hostile manner; to assault; to molest; as, to assail a man with blows; to assail a city with artillery.
“No rude noise mine ears assailing.” — Cowper.

“No storm can now assail The charm he wears within.” — Keble.
2.
To encounter or meet purposely with the view of mastering, as an obstacle, difficulty, or the like.
“The thorny wilds the woodmen fierce assail.” — Pope.
3.
To attack morally, or with a view to produce changes in the feelings, character, conduct, existing usages, institutions; to attack by words, hostile influence, etc.; as, to assail one with appeals, arguments, abuse, ridicule, and the like.
“The papal authority . . . assailed.” — Hallam.

“They assailed him with keen invective; they assailed him with still keener irony.” — Macaulay.

Syn. To attack; assault; invade; encounter; fall upon. See Attack.