v. t. | 1. | To fall upon with force; to assail, as with force and arms; to assault. |
2. | To assail with unfriendly speech or writing; to begin a controversy with; to attempt to overthrow or bring into disrepute, by criticism or satire; to censure; | |
3. | To set to work upon, as upon a task or problem, or some object of labor or investigation. | |
4. | To begin to affect; to begin to act upon, injuriously or destructively; to begin to decompose or waste. | |
v. i. | 1. | To make an onset or attack. |
n. | 1. | The act of attacking, or falling on with force or violence; an onset; an assault; - opposed to |
2. | An assault upon one's feelings or reputation with unfriendly or bitter words. | |
3. | A setting to work upon some task, etc. | |
4. | An access of disease; a fit of sickness. | |
5. | The beginning of corrosive, decomposing, or destructive action, by a chemical agent. |