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countable and uncountable, plural assaults
A violent onset or attack with physical means, for example blows, weapons, etc. quotations examples
The Spanish general prepared to renew the assault.
1855–1858, William H[ickling] Prescott, History of the Reign of Philip the Second, King of Spain, volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), Boston, Mass.: Phillips, Sampson, and Company
Unshaken bears the assault / Of their most dreaded foe, the strong southwest.
1814, William Wordsworth, The Excursion, Book 5
Hostilities peaked with the Skyllian Blitz of 2176, an attack on the human capital of Elysium by batarian-funded pirates and slavers. In 2178, the Alliance retaliated with a crushing assault on the moon of Torfan, long used as a staging base by batarian-backed criminals. In the aftermath, the batarians retreated into their own systems, and are now rarely seen in Citadel space.
2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, PC, scene: Batarians Codex entry
A violent verbal attack, for example with insults, criticism, and the like examples
(criminal law) An attempt to commit battery: a violent attempt, or willful effort with force or violence, to do hurt to another, but without necessarily touching the person, such as by raising a fist in a threatening manner, or by striking at the person and missing. examples
(singular only, law) The crime whose action is such an attempt. examples
(tort law) An act that causes someone to apprehend imminent bodily harm (such as brandishing a weapon). examples
(singular only, law) The tort whose action is such an act. examples
(fencing) A non-competitive combat between two fencers. examples
third-person singular simple present assaults, present participle assaulting, simple past and past participle assaulted
(transitive) To attack, physically or figuratively; to assail. examples
(transitive) To threaten or harass. examples