assassinate
verbnounattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//əˈsæsɪneɪt//
- United States//əˈsæs(ə)nˌeɪt//
To murder someone, especially an important person, by a sudden or obscure attack, especially for ideological or political reasons.
verb
- 1
To murder someone, especially an important person, by a sudden or obscure attack, especially for ideological or political reasons.
The Assassines, a nation depending of Phœnicia, are esteemed among the Mahometists[…]. And thus was our Earle Raymond of Tripoli murthered or assassinated (this word is borrowed from their name) in the middest of his Citie, during the time of our warres in the holy land[…].
A Korean Communist selected as a vice chairman of the government for north Korea in the Russian occupied zone was assassinated as he was leaving a conference with Col. Gen. Chistjakoff, commander of the soviet 25th army, a Korean refugee said today.
- 2
figurativeTo harm, ruin, or defame severely or destroy by treachery, slander, libel, or obscure attack.
He assassinated his rival's character.
Such uſage as your honourable Lords / Afford me aſſaſſinated and betray'd, […]
But vvhen your Rhimes aſſaſſinate our Fame, / You hug your nauſeous, blund'ring Ballad-vvits, / And pay 'em as if Nonſence vvere a merit, / If it can mean but Treaſon.
Etymology
From assassin + -ate, after Middle French assassiner.
noun
- 1
obsoleteAssassination, murder.
Mor. Why? if I had made an assassinate upon your Father; vitiated your Mother: ravished your Sisters― Tru. I would kill you, Sir, I would kill you, if you had. Mor. Why? you do more in this, Sir: it were a vengeance centuple, for all facinorous Acts, that could be nam'd, to do that you do.
- 2
obsoleteAn assassin.
Yet again, many of them deſperat hairebraines, raſh, careleſſe, fit to be Aſſaſinates, as being voide of all Feare and Sorrow […]
Etymology
From assassin + -ate (noun-forming suffix).
Forms
- plural
- assassinates
- past tense
- assassinated
- past participle
- assassinated
- present participle
- assassinating
- third person singular
- assassinates
assassinate · To murder someone, especially an important person, by a sudden or obscure attack, especially for ideological or political reasons.
assassination · The murder of a person, especially for political reasons or…assault · A violent onset or attack with physical means, for example…assemble · To put together.