assassin

n. [ F. (cf. It. assassino), fr. Ar. ‘hashishin one who has drunk of the hashish. Under its influence the Assassins of the East, followers of the Shaikh al-Jabal (Old Man of the Mountain), were said to commit the murders required by their chief. ] One who kills, or attempts to kill, by surprise or secret assault; one who treacherously murders any one unprepared for defense. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To assassinate. [ Obs. ] Stillingfleet. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Assassinated p. pr. & vb. n. Assassinating ] [ LL. assassinatus, p. p. of assassinare. ] 1. To kill by surprise or secret assault; to murder by treacherous violence. [ 1913 Webster ]

Help, neighbors, my house is broken open by force, and I am ravished, and like to be assassinated. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To assail with murderous intent; hence, by extended meaning, to maltreat exceedingly. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Your rhymes assassinate our fame. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Such usage as your honorable lords
Afford me, assassinated and betrayed. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To kill; murder; slay. See Kill. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. assassinat. ] 1. An assassination, murder, or murderous assault. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

If I had made an assassinate upon your father. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An assassin. [ Obs. ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of assassinating; a killing by treacherous violence. [ 1913 Webster ]