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A rushing or setting upon; an attack; an assault; a storming; especially, the assault of an army. Milton. The onset and retire Of both your armies. Shak. Who on that day the word of onset gave. Wordsworth.

An attack; an onset; esp., a furious or murderous attack or assault. By storm and onslaught to proceed. Hudibras.

, an open library, museum, court, or other assembly; liable to the approach, trespass, or attack of any one; unprotected; exposed. If Demetrius . . . have a matter against any man, the law is open and there are deputies. Acts xix. 33. The service that I truly did his life, Hath left me open to all injuries. Shak.…

ho opposes in a disputation, argument, or other verbal controversy; specifically, one who attacks some theirs or proposition, in distinction from the respondent, or defendant, who maintains it. How becomingly does Philopolis exercise his office, and seasonably commit the opponent with the respondent, like a long-practi…

They . . . vindicate themselves in terms no less opprobrious than those by which they are attacked. Addison.

To fight against; to attack; to be in conflict with; to oppose; to resist. They said the manner of their impeachment they could not but conceive did oppugn the rights of Parliament. Clarendon.

One who opposes or attacks; that which opposes. Selden.

h iron, and suspended, each by a separate rope, over a gateway, to be let down in case of attack.

as a burning taste, and gives off a vapor, which is a powerful irritant poison, violently attacking the eyes, and emitting a strong chlorinelike odor. Formerly improperly called osmic acid.

before a besieged fortress, by the besieging force, as a cover for troops supporting the attacking batteries. They are roughly parallel to the line of outer defenses of the fortress.

The fit, attack, or exacerbation, of a disease that occurs at intervals, or has decided remissions or intermissions. Arbuthnot.

sts, by a guard, usually consisting of three or four men, to insure greater security from attacks on the outposts.

with the beak; hence, to eat. [The hen] went pecking by his side. Dryden. To peck at, to attack with petty and repeated blows; to carp at; to nag; to tease.

A small hemipterous insect (Phylloxera vastatrix) allied to the aphids. It attacks the roots and leaves of the grapevine, doing great damage, especially in Europe.

A horseman armed with a lance, who in a bullfight receives the first attack of the bull, and excites him by picking him without attempting to kill him.

ile forces have fixed positions; -- in distinction from a skirmish. -- To pitch into, to attack; to assault; to abuse. [Slang]

ilk, or which appears at that pole of a voltaic battery attached to the plate that is not attacked by the exciting liquid; -- formerly called vitreous electricity; -- opposed to Ant: negative electricity. -- Positive eyepiece. See under Eyepiece. -- Positive law. See Municipal law, under Law. -- Positive motion (Mac…

eceive; to dissemble; -- in allusion to the habit of the opossum, which feigns death when attacked or alarmed.

To make an advance, attack, or effort; to be energetic; as, a man must push in order to succeed. At the time of the end shall the kind of the south push at him and the king of the north shall come against him. Dan. xi. 40. War seemed asleep for nine long years; at length Both sides resolved to push, we tried our streng…

A sudden attack of illness, faintness, or pain; an agony. " Qualms of heartsick agony." Milton.