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The act of agitating, or the state of being agitated; the state of being moved with violence, or with irregular action; commotion; as, the sea after a storm is in agitation.

Pertaining to violent contests, bodily or mental; pertaining to athletic or polemic feats; athletic; combative; hence, strained; unnatural. As a scholar, he [Dr. Parr] was brilliant, but he consumed his power in agonistic displays. De Quincey.

To writhe with agony; to suffer violent anguish. To smart and agonize at every pore. Pope.

Violent contest or striving. The world is convulsed by the agonies of great nations. Macaulay.

With might; with full force; vigorously; violently; exceedingly. They on the hill, which were not yet come to blows, perceiving the fewness of their enemies, came down amain. Milton. That striping giant, ill-bred and scoffing, shouts amain. T. Parker.

A variety of crystallized quartz, of a purple or bluish violet color, of different shades. It is much used as a jeweler's stone. Oriental amethyst, the violet-blue variety of transparent crystallized corundum or sapphire.

Resembling amethyst, especially in color; bluish violet.

Violent hatred leading to active opposition; active enmity; energetic dislike. Macaulay.

Disregard or violation of law. [R.] Glanvill.

of Earl Reimund, though at first but a buzz, soon got a sting in the king's head, and he violently apprehended it. Fuller. The eternal laws, such as the heroic age apprehended them. Gladstone.

A violet dye obtained from several species of lichen (Roccella tinctoria, etc.), which grow on maritime rocks in the Canary and Cape Verd Islands, etc. Tomlinson.

To attack with violence, or in a vehement and hostile manner; to assault; to molest; as, to assail a man with blows; to assail a city with artillery. No rude noise mine ears assailing. Cowper. No storm can now assail The charm he wears within. Keble.

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.

The act of assassinating; a killing by treacherous violence.

A violent onset or attack with physical means, as blows, weapons, etc.; an onslaught; the rush or charge of an attacking force; onset; as, to make assault upon a man, a house, or a town. The Spanish general prepared to renew the assault. Prescott. Unshaken bears the assault Of their most dreaded foe, the strong southwe…

One who assaults, or violently attacks; an assailant. E. Hall.

Together. [Obs.] Spenser. He and Aufidius can no more atone Than violentest contrariety. Shak.

Very grievous or violent; terrible; as, atrocious distempers. [Obs.] Cheyne.

The act of attacking, or falling on with force or violence; an onset; an assault; -- opposed to defense.

[Archaic] The sacred streams which Heaven's imperial state Attests in oaths, and fears to violate. Dryden.