assault
n. C / Un. a violent physical attack on someone. In legal contexts, it can also mean making someone feel like they are about to be hurt.
n. a physical attack or a credible threat of physical harm against another person. In legal contexts, it is often distinguished from battery, which involves actual physical contact.
The man was arrested for assault after the fight.
The victim reported the assault to the police immediately after the incident occurred in the park.
The prosecution argued that the defendant's aggressive posturing and verbal threats constituted a clear case of assault, even though no physical blows were actually landed during the confrontation.
From Middle English assaut, from Old French noun assaut, derived from the past participle of the verb assalir, from Late Latin assalīre, from Latin ad (“at, towards”) + salīre (“jump”). See also assail. Spelling Latinized around 1530 to add an l.
Often used with the preposition 'on' or 'against' when describing the target of the attack.
he made an assault to herhe made an assault on herThe noun assault takes the preposition 'on' or 'against' when identifying the victim.