Assassin Definition
ə-săsĭn
assassins
noun
assassins
One who murders by surprise attack, especially one who carries out a plot to kill a prominent person.
American Heritage
A member of a secret terrorist sect of Muslims of the 11th-13th cent., who killed their political enemies as a religious duty, allegedly while under the influence of hashish.
Webster's New World
A member of a militant subgroup of Ismailis that in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries carried out political assassinations directed especially against Seljuk rule.
American Heritage
A murderer who strikes suddenly and by surprise.
Webster's New World
A person who harms or ruins someone's reputation, as by slander, vilification, etc.
A journalist who is a well-known character assassin.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
verb
(nonstandard) To assassinate.
Wiktionary
Other Word Forms of Assassin
Noun
Singular:
assassin
Plural:
assassinsOrigin of Assassin
-
French from Medieval Latin assassīnus from Arabic ḥaššāšīn pl. of ḥaššāš hashish user from ḥašīš hashish hashish
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From French assassin or Italian assassino, from either Arabic حشاشين (ḥaššāšīn, “hashish users”), or أساسيون (ʾasāsiyyūn).
From Wiktionary
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