assault: [13] To assault somebody was originally to ‘jump on’ them. The word comes from a Vulgar Latin compound verb *assaltāre, formed from the prefix ad- ‘to’ and saltāre ‘jump’, a frequentative form (denoting repeated action) of the verb salīre ‘jump’ (which is the source of English salient, and by a similar compounding process produced assail [13]). In Old French this became asauter, and English originally borrowed it as asaute, but in the 16th century the l was reintroduced. => assail, somersault
assault (n.)
late 14c., earlier asaut (c. 1200), from Old French asaut, assaut "an attack, an assault, attacking forces" (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *adsaltus "attack, assault," from ad "to" (see ad-) + Latin saltus "a leap," from salire "to leap, spring" (see assail). In law by 1580s; historically, assault includes menacing words or actions; battery is an actual blow.
assault (v.)
early 15c., from Middle French asauter, assauter, from Vulgar Latin *assaltare (see assault (n.)). Related: Assaulted; assaulting.
实用例句
1. At the police station, I was charged with assault.
在警察局，我被指控殴打他人。
来自柯林斯例句
2. US forces are poised for a massive air, land and sea assault.
美国军队作好了发动大规模海、陆、空攻击的准备。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The family tried to bring a private prosecution against him for assault.
这家人试图以侵犯人身为由对他提起自诉。
来自柯林斯例句
4. John's soldiers were readying themselves for the final assault.
约翰的手下正在为最后的进攻做准备。
来自柯林斯例句
5. The rebels are poised for a new assault on the government garrisons.
