Assault, n.
Etymology: [OE. asaut, assaut, OF. assaut, asalt, F. assaut, LL. assaltus; L. ad + saltus a leaping, a springing, salire to leap. See Assail.]
1. 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 southwest. Wordsworth.
2. A violent onset or attack with moral weapons, as words, arguments, appeals, and the like; as, to make an assault on the prerogatives of a prince, or on the constitution of a government. Clarendon.
3. (Law)
An apparently violent attempt, or willful offer with force or violence, to do hurt to another; an attempt or offer to beat another, accompanied by a degree of violence, but without touching his person, as by lifting the fist, or a cane, in a threatening manner, or by striking at him, and missing him. If the blow aimed takes effect, it is a battery. Blackstone. Wharton. Practically, however, the word assault is used to include the battery. Mozley & W.
1 more senses
Syn. -- Attack; invasion; incursion; descent; onset; onslaught; charge; storm.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Assault, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assaulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Assaulting.]
1. To make an assault upon, as by a sudden rush of armed men; to attack with unlawful or insulting physical violence or menaces. Insnared, assaulted, overcome, led bound. Milton.
2. To attack with moral means, or with a view of producing moral effects; to attack by words, arguments, or unfriendly measures; to assail; as, to assault a reputation or an administration. Before the gates, the cries of babes newborn, . . . Assault his ears. Dryden.
Note: In the latter sense, assail is more common.
Syn. -- To attack; assail; invade; encounter; storm; charge. See Attack.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for assault; he lists it under attack.
Where he writes about it:
Assail and assault, tho of the same original etymology, have diverged in meaning, so that assault alone retains the meaning of direct personal violence. — from attack
An assault may be upon the person, an aggression is upon rights, possessions, etc. — from attack
Onslaught signifies intensely violent assault, as by an army or a desperado, tho it is sometimes used of violent speech. — from attack