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

In Peacock’s thriller series, Eddie Redmayne is the titular assassin being chased by Bianca, a British intelligence officer played by Lashana Lynch.

From Los Angeles Times

The producers immediately looked to Redmayne to play the titular Jackal, a scrupulous British long-range assassin with an enigmatic quality.

From Los Angeles Times

The edge-of-your-seat series weaves together a cat-and-mouse chase across Europe, with Bianca searching for an assassin — the Jackal — who is leaving a trail of bodies in his wake as he continually evades authorities.

From Los Angeles Times

The episodes unfold with the thrilling speed and sense of unnerving propulsion, but there’s also space for the audience to better understand what drives the assassin and the spy who’s looking for him.

From Los Angeles Times

Alpha Male, sometimes tearing up when he recounts his many grievances, mythologizes Trump, a leader who survived an assassin’s bullet, an army of prosecutors, 34 felony counts and endless scandal.

From Los Angeles Times