To kill by surprise or secret assault; to murder by treacherous violence. Help, neighbors, my house is broken open by force, and I am ravished, and like to be assassinated. Dryden.
To assail with murderous intent; hence, by extended meaning, to maltreat exceedingly. [Archaic] Your rhymes assassinate our fame. Dryden. Such usage as your honorable lords Afford me, assassinated and betrayed. Milton.
An assassination, murder, or murderous assault. [Obs.] If I had made an assassinate upon your father. B. Jonson.
An assassin. [Obs.] Dryden.
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