assassin

[uh-sas-in]

noun

1. a murderer, especially one who kills a politically prominent person for fanatical or monetary reasons.

2. (initial capital letter),  one of an order of Muslim fanatics, active in Persia and Syria from about 1090 to 1272, whose chief object was to assassinate Crusaders.

Assassin

¹

/ əˈsæsɪn /

noun

1. a member of a secret sect of Muslim fanatics operating in Persia and Syria from about 1090 to 1256, murdering their victims, usually Crusaders

assassin

²

/ əˈsæsɪn /

noun

1. a murderer, esp one who kills a prominent political figure

Word History and Origins

Origin of Assassin¹

1525–35; < Medieval Latin assassinī (plural) < Arabic ḥashshāshīn eaters of hashish

Word History and Origins

Origin of Assassin¹

C16: from Medieval Latin assassīnus, from Arabic hashshāshīn, plural of hashshāsh one who eats _hashish

Example Sentences

But it was especially disturbing given the FBI director’s alleged friendship with Kirk and the level of seriousness with which Patel claimed the bureau led the manhunt for Kirk’s assassin.

From Salon

"I have received threats from hired assassins," he said, adding that he had lodged a formal complaint with the police.

From BBC

"It was much easier to crash a wedding than I'd have thought – I was in and out like an assassin, even if I only got a bottle of cola for it all!"

From BBC

The trial of an alleged would-be presidential assassin started as many trials do: with jury selection.

From BBC

Released in 1982 and set in 2025, it predicts a totalitarian America in which citizens are declared enemies of the state by a game show and forced to run from law enforcement and elite assassins.

From Salon