Lexic.us

Definition of Assassin

1. Noun. A murderer (especially one who kills a prominent political figure) who kills by a surprise attack and often is hired to do the deed. "Assassinators of kings and emperors"

2. Noun. A member of a secret order of Muslims (founded in the 12th century) who terrorized and killed Christian Crusaders.

Definition of Assassin

1. n. One who kills, or attempts to kill, by surprise or secret assault; one who treacherously murders any one unprepared for defense.

2. v. t. To assassinate.

Definition of Assassin

1. Noun. (historical) A member of a Muslim militant group responsible for murdering Christian leaders during the Crusades. ¹

2. Noun. Someone who intentionally kills a person, especially a professional who kills a public or political figure. ¹

3. Noun. Any ruthless killer. ¹

4. Verb. (nonstandard) To assassinate. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Assassin

1. a murderer [n -S] - See also: murderer

Literary usage of Assassin

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. History of the United States from the Compromise of 1850 by James Ford Rhodes (1919)
"When McKinley was murdered, the assassin was brought into court on a Monday nine days ... On Thursday the death sentence was pronounced ; the assassin was ..."

2. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon (1914)
"One evening, as the emperor was returning to the palace i» wounded ;hrough a dark and narrow portico in the amphitheatre,18 an assassin ..."

3. Complete Life of William McKinley and Story of His Assassination: An by Marshall Everett (1901)
"And the mangled fragments of the Third assassin would have borne mute testimony to the ... The assassin did not even turn his eyes toward his questioner. ..."

4. The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon (1899)
"One evening, as the emperor was returning to the palace through a dark and narrow portico in the amphitheatre,14 an assassin, who waited his passage, ..."

5. The Quarterly Review by William Gifford, John Taylor Coleridge, John Gibson Lockhart, Whitwell Elwin, William Macpherson, William Smith, John Murray, Rowland Edmund Prothero Ernle, George Walter Prothero (1902)
"... assassin than that of a gentleman privileged and accustomed to wear a sword. However, Lady Sarah's unfailing good sense kept her in a moderate course. ..."

6. The Insect Book: A Popular Account of the Bees, Wasps, Ants, Grasshoppers by Leland Ossian Howard (1905)
"From this food some of the subfamilies are known as "cannibal bugs" or "pirate bugs." Comstock calls them the "assassin bugs." With many Fig 180. ..."

7. Ten Years in Washington: Or, Life and Scenes in Our National Capital, as a by Mary Clemmer (1882)
"... His Wife—The assassin Lying in Wait—The Fatal Shot—Tremendous Excitement—The Wounded President—His assassin, Charles J. Guiteau—Who He is—His Infamous ..."

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