assailant /əˈseɪlənt/noun 2adjective 1forms 1 noun2 •Someone who attacks or assails another violently, or criminally.I’ll put myself in poor and mean attire, And with a kind of umber smirch my face; The like do you; so shall we pass along, And never stir assailants. — 1598 •(figurative) A hostile critic or opponent.[…] the assailants of the quill have their honour as much at heart as the assailants of the sword. — 1782 adjective1 •Assailing; attacking. formsassailants
