asprino 
white wine made in the neighborhood of Koine. 
The best-known quality in sparkling, 
aspyt, and r. A Middle English form of < .</>//. 
asquat (ii-skwof), prep, jilir. as Kilr. <ir n. [< 
a'f + squat.} In or into a squatting posture, 
sitting asi/uat between my mother and sister. 
343 
tives of South Africa, especially the Zulns and 
Kafirs. Also spelled /IX.KI//H. 
assagai (iis';i-f,'i), r.t. [< OMOpOi, .] Toslrikc 
or kill with an assa^ui. Also .spelled 
asquint (a-skwiuf), /"''/<. i>hr. as adv. oia. [< 
ME. asquint, /i .it/uyntt; appar. < a + *.ii/nint (<(. 
D.sehuinte, slope, slant); but squint is not found 
in ME., the mod. form squint, <ulr. and it., hav- 
ing come by apheresis from tixi/uint: tn-t-.ii/iiiiit. \ 
1. To or out at the corner or angle of the eye; 
obliquely ; toward one side ; not in the straight 
line of vision; askance; furtively. 
I Who luuk asiinlnl or shut their eyes. .Sic///. 
Edifices, . . . with all their costliness, looking -"in 
what astjttint on the visitor, us if questioning his right to 
enter them. Alcott, Tablets, p. 70. 
2. In the condition of squinting ; oblique. 
The eye is mnilily and sometimes ttt'iitint. 
I'.'i/iii-.^iii, Kssays, 1st scr., p. 12fi. (.V. A.'. It.) 
asquirm (a-skwerm'), prep. phr. as adr. or a. 
[O< 3 + si/iiirm.} On the squirm; squirming. 
Howells. 
ass 1 (as), . [< ME. as, ass, asse, < AS. assa, in. 
(fern, abseil, not *asse), an isolated form, perhaps 
adapted from ONorth. assald, asald, anal (which 
is from the Celtic), the earlier form, of the com- 
mon Teut. type, being esol, esul = OS. esil = 
D. ezel (> E. easel, q. v.) = OHG. esil, MHG. G. 
esel (> Dan. esel, (esel) = Goth, asilus (cf. Ir. and 
Gael, asal = Manx assyl, and OBulg. ostlu = 
Bohem. osel = Pol. osiel, osiol (barred I) = Russ. 
oselu = Lith. asilas = OPruss. asilis), prob. the 
same, with variant termination, as Icel. asni, 
m., asna, fern., = Sw. Asna = Dan. asen (cf. W. 
asyn = Corn, asen = Bret, azen) ; all appar. (the 
Slav, and Lith. forms through Teut.) < L. asi- 
nus (> It. asino = Sp. Pg. asno = Pr. asne = OF. 
limn; F. dne) = Gr. toof (orig. "ooi'of f), an ass; 
perhaps ult. of Semitic origin ; cf . Heb. athon, a 
she-ass. Cf. G. ousel, esp. in eomp. keller-assel 
(also keller-esel), a wood-louse, so named from 
its color, < L. asellus, a little ass, dim. of asinus; 
cf. Gr. wof, a wood-louse.] 1. A golidungulate 
quadruped of the family Equidai, the Equus usi- 
ntts. This animal has long ears, a short mane, and a tail 
covered with long hairs at the end. It Is usually ash-col- 
ored, with a black cross over the shoulders, formed by a 
longitudinal and a transverse dark streak. The tame or 
domestic ass is patient, and carries a heavy burden. It is 
slow, but very sure-footed, and for this reason very useful 
on rough, steep, and hilly ground. The ass is supposed 
to be a native of central Asia (by Darwin and others, of 
Abyssinia), where vast troops roam over the great deserts 
in a wild state. The wild ass is a flue fleet animal, and 
is accounted the noblest game in Persia, where its flesh 
is prized as venison is with us. The domesticated ass has 
become the type of obstinacy ami stupidity. See jackass. 
2. Any wild species of the subgenus Asinus, 
as the dziggetai or hemione, onager, etc. 3. A 
dull, heavy, stupid fellow; a dolt; a fool; a 
blockhead. 
If this be not a fit of some violent affection, I am an 
ass in understanding. Ford, Love's Sacrifice, li. 2. 
4. A post in the bridge of a pulp-vat on which 
the mold is placed to drain Asses' bridge (pans 
asinorum), a name humorously given to the flftn propo- 
sition of the first book of Euclid's Elements of Geome- 
try. See pons asinorum. Feast of asses. See feast. 
-The TWO Asses, the stars v and 6 of the constellation 
Cancer on either side of the nebula Pncsepe. See Asellus. 
ass 2 (as), n. [Scotch form of asM.} Ashes. 
ass 3 (as), n. A unit of weight in use in differ- 
ent parts of Germany until the adoption of the 
metric system. It was equal to 5 centigrams, 
or three quarters of a grain troy. 
assacu (as'a-ko), . [Braz.] A euphorbiaceous 
tree of South America, Hura crepitans, the bark 
and sap of which contain a very acrid poisonous 
principle. Applied to the skin the milky sap produces 
a pustular eruption ; the natives prepare from it a poison- 
ous drink, also used as an anthelmiutic. The seeds are 
most violently purgative. A decoction of the bark is used 
as a remedy for elephantiasis, and the pounded leaves are 
used for rheumatism. 
assafetida, n. See asafetida. 
assagai (as'a-gi), n. [Also written assegai, as- 
sagay, assegay, and formerly assagaie, azagaia 
(also zagaye, sagaie, < F. zagaie), and early mod. 
E. archtgaye(< F. arehegaie, archigaie, arcigaye); 
< F. azegaye, azagaue, < Pg. azagaia, Sp. asa- 
gaya (Sp. formerly also without the art., zagaya, 
> It. zagaglia, F. zagaie, above), < Ar. az-zaghd- 
yah, < al, the, + zaghayah, a spear: a native 
Berber word. Cf. lancegay.} A slender spear 
or lance of hard wood, usually having an iron 
head : now most commonly applied to the throw- 
ing-spear or javelin used in battle by the na- 
Upon a signal the Zulus rush<'<! I>I>M their unarmed 
^'llt 'Ms. anil u**<f<i<ti,-<l tlli-lu to the la^t mall. 
Wfflminstfr Htr., CXXVI. 17:i. 
assagai- wood (as'a-gi-wud), n. The wood of 
a coruaceous tree of southern Africa, Curtixiu 
fiii/inea, of which the Zulus make their spears. 
assai' (as-sii/i), rule. [It., very, much, enough, 
< Ml., nit .inti.i: I,, ml, to; satis, enough. See 
assetlt, assets.} In music, very: as, allegro assai, 
very quick ; adagio assai, very slow. 
assai- (a-si'), . [Braz.] A native name in 
Brazil of several species of palms of the genus 
' (which see). The ii-niMi (that is. fuls,- 
is the iseontnua Camana. Assai-i is a drink pre- 
pared from the nuts of E. oleracea. 
assail (a-sal'), v. t. [< ME. assailen, asailen 
(later often by apheresis saile), < OF. agaillir, 
asiilir, later amiaillir = l'r. asttlir, #.f//<i'r = It. as- 
salire, < ML. assalire, adsalire, assail, for L. *- 
silire, adsilire, leap upon, < ad, to, + salire, leap, 
jump, rush forth: see salient. Cf. assault.} 1. 
To fall upon with violence ; assault ; attack. 
With greedy furee he gan the fort t' axmit. Spenter. 
The covert of some enclosed ground in the rear en.-iiil. ->\ 
a party to steal round and aitfcfiil them unexpectedly in 
flank. K. W. liixun, Hist. Church of Eng., III. 74. 
2. To attack with reasoning, arguments, cen- 
sure, abuse, criticism, appeals, entreaties, or 
anything that bears upon the mind or feelings: 
as, to assail an obnoxious person with jeers. 
The prince next atmiled the baron upon the subject of 
settling his estate on his daughter. Scott. 
The really efficient weapons with which the philosophers 
atutaikd the evangelical faith were borrowed from the 
evangelical morality. Macaulay, Von Kanke. 
The metaphysical doctrine assailed by Ilium- tended, 
when carried to its logical extreme, to identify reality 
with reason. /,.-.*//< Stephen, Eng. Thought, i. 64. 
3. To fall upon; bring something to bear upon 
or against; come in contact with: as, the snip 
was assailed by a severe storm. 
Sit down awhile, 
And let us once again assail your ears. 
SAa*-., Hamlet, i. 1. 
When trouble did thee sore assail, 
On me then didst thou call. Milton, Ps. Ixxxi. 
= 8yn. 1. Attack, Set upon, Fall upon, Assail, Assault. 
Attack, literally to fasten to, is the most general of these 
words. Set upon and fall upon have the vigor of short 
and familiar words, and they express a sudden, energetic 
attack. Assail and assault, literally to leap or spring at, 
are to attack vehemently and perhaps suddenly. Assault 
is the stronger of the two, and is especially used of at- 
tacks with personal violence, as with fists, stones, etc. All 
five of these words may be extended to warfare, and to 
contests and struggles of any kind. 
This king's [Menephtah's] first experience in war was 
against an army of wider nationality than had ever before 
attacked Egypt. H. S. Osborn, Ancient Egypt, p. 74. 
He look'd, and more amazed 
Than if seven men had set upon him, saw 
The maiden standing in the dewy light. 
Tennyson, Lancelot and Elaine. 
My lord is weary with the flght before, 
And they will/uK upott him unawares. 
Tennyson, Geraint. 
The indignation which arms itself with secret forces 
does not awaken until we are pricked and stung and sorely 
assailed. Emerson, Compensation. 
Then they assaulted one of the gates, which they burned : 
but only to find that the defenders had raised a more 
formidable barrier behind it. 
S. W. Dixon, Hist. Church of Eng., III. 64. 
assailable (a-sa'la-bl), a. [< assail + -able.} 
Capable of being assailed, attacked, or invaded. 
He lived among a generation of sinners, whose con- 
sciences were not assailable by smooth circumlocutions, 
and whose vices required the scourge and the hot iron. 
Whipple, Ess. and Rev., II. 86. 
assailant (a-sa'lant), a. and n. [< F. assaillant, 
ppr. of assaillir : see assail &nd -ant 1 .} I. a. 1. 
Assaulting; attacking; invading with violence. 
Milton. 2. In her., same as salient. 
n. 11. One who assails, attacks, or assaults. 
The wise man throws himself on the side of his assail- 
ants. It is more his interest than it is theirs to find his 
weak point. Emerson, Compensation. 
assailer (a-sa'ler), n. [< ME. assailour, assail- 
your, < OF. assailleor, < assaillir: see assail.} 
One who assails. 
assailment (a-sal'ment), . [< assail + -ment.} 
An assault ; an attack. [Rare.] 
His most frequent assailment was the headache. 
Johnson, Pope. 
assai-palm (a-sl'pam), n. Same as 11.1x111-. 
assamar (as'a-mar), w. [< L. assus, roasted, + 
atnarus, bitter.] " A bitter substance produced 
by roasting in the air such substances as sugar, 
assassinate 
meat, bread, grain, etc., until they turn brown. 
Huron roii Hi ii-ln iiliiirh. 
Assamese (as-a-im-s' or -mez'), <t. and w. [< 
.Ixxiiiii + -CM.] I. . Pertaining to Assam or 
its inhabitants. 
II. n. .ling. andp?. A native or the natives 
of Assam, an eastern province of British India 
adjoining Burma and Tibet. 
assapant, assapanict Ois-a-pan', -ik), . [N. 
Amer. hid.] The native name of the Amarieu 
Mying-squirrel, H<-iiii-iij>/i-rn.i rotm-i l/<i. Also nx- 
.III/KI n it-/:, iixiii jihan. 
assart (a-siirt'), v. t. [< AF. assarter, OF. es- 
sarter, < ML. esartiire, exsartare (freq. of "ex- 
sarire), grub up, < ex, out, + sartare for "suri- 
tare, freq. of L. mnn; .nirrirr, pp. .inrrilim, hoe, 
weed, grub.] In Eng. Itnt; to grub up (trees 
and bushes) ; clear (wood-land), 
assart (a-sftrf ), . [Now also essart; < AF. 
', OF. essart (> law L. assarta, assartus, 
, < ML. exartiiiii, prop. neut. of "rtur- 
titx, pp. of "exarire, 'exsarire: see assart, v.} In 
Eng. law : (a) The act of grubbing up trees and 
bushes in a forest. This act, as destroying thi.k. i, 
and coverts, was in some circumstances forbidden by law. 
(6) A tree grubbed up by the roots, (c) A piece 
of land cleared, as by grubbing. 
In those districts, and in many others in the neighbour- 
hood, the copyhold lands which have been reclaimed from 
the forest-waste are known as "OMrarMands." 
C. Elton, Origins of Eng. Hist., p. m. 
assaryt, . [< Gr. aaoapiov.} The Roman cop- 
per coin called as. 
assassin (a-sas'in), . [< F. assassin = Pr. as- 
sassin = Sp. asesino = Pg. It. assassino, < ML. 
assassinus, prop, one of the Assassini, Assasini, 
Assessini, Aseisini (also Asasi, Haussasi; cf. OF. 
Assaeis, Hassasis, MGr. Xaaiatot, pi., from the 
Ar. sing.), < Ar. Hashshdxhin and Ha&hishiyytn, 
the order or sect of the Assassins, lit. hashish- 
eaters (so called because the agents selected 
to do murder were first intoxicated with hash- 
ish), pi. of liii.ili.ilin.iii and hn.ihi.ilii i/i/. hashish- 
eater, < hashish, hashish : see hashish.} 1. \cap.} 
One of the Assassins, a military and religious 
order in Syria, founded in Persia by Hassan ben 
Sabbah about the year 1090. A colony migrated from 
Persia to Syria, settled in various places, with their chief 
seat on the mountains of Lebanon, and became remarkable 
for their secret murders in blind obedience to the will of 
their chief. Their religion was a compound of Magianism, 
Judaism, Christianity, and Mohammedanism. One article 
of their creed was that the Holy Spirit resided in their 
chief and that his orders proceeded from God himself. 
The chief of the sect is best known by the denomination 
old man of the mountain (Arabic sheikh al-jebal, chief of 
the mountains). These barbarous chieftains' and their fol- 
lowers spread terror among nations far and near for al- 
most two centuries. In the time of the crusades they 
mustered to the number of 50,000, and presented a formi- 
dable obstacle to the arms of the Christians. They were 
eventually subdued by the sultan Bibars about 1272. 
2. One who undertakes, for a reward previous- 
ly agreed on, to put another person to death 
by surprise or secret assault ; nence, one who 
kills, or attempts to kill, by treacherous vio- 
lence; a murderer. 3f. [With allusion to its 
' killing ' effect. ] A breast-knot, or similar deco- 
ration worn in front. Ladies 1 Diet., London, 
1694. 
assassin! (a-sas'in), v. t. [< F. assassiner, assas- 
sinate, worry, vex, = It. assassinare, assassinate, 
< ML. assassinare; from the noun.] To mur- 
der; assassinate. 
With him that assastines his parents. 
Stulingjteet, Sermons, p. 502. 
assassinacyt (a-sas'i-na-si), n. [< as8as8ina(te) 
+ -cy.} The act of assassinating. Hammond. 
assassinantt (a-sas'i-nant), n. [< F. assassi- 
nant, ppr. of assassiner: see assassin, v.} An 
assassin. 
assassinate (a-sas'i-nat), v. ; pret. and pp. as- 
sassinated, ppr. assassinating. [< ML. assassi- 
natus, pp. of assassinare : see assassin, t).] I. 
trans. 1. To kill or attempt to kill by surprise 
or secret assault ; murder by sudden or treach- 
erous violence. 
Help, neighbours, my house Is broken open, . . . and I 
am ravished and like to be assassinated. Dryden. 
2f. To assault ; maltreat. 
Such usage as your honourable lords 
Afford me, assassinated and betray'd. 
Milton, S. A., 1. 1109. 
3. Figuratively, to blight or destroy treacher- 
ously; overthrow by foul or unfair means: 
as, to assassinate a person's character or repu- 
tation. = Syn. 1. Stay, Murder, etc. See KB. 
II. intrans. To commit murder by assassina- 
tion. 
Where now no thieves assassinate. 
Sandys, Paraphrase of Judges, v. 
