[f. assassīnāt- ppl. stem of med.L. assassīnāre = It. assassinare, F. assassiner, f. the sb.: see ASSASSIN and -ATE.]
1. trans. To kill by treacherous violence.
1618. Bolton, Florus, IV. ii. 292. Brutus and Cassius … conspired to assassinate him.
1775. Harris, Philos. Arrangem. (1841), 339. Cæsar, when he was assassinated, fell at the feet of Pompey’s statue.
1813. Southey, Nelson, iii. 65. He was assassinated by some wretches set on … by Genoa.
b. absol.
1678. Butler, Hud., III. II. 1022. To defend was to invade, And to assassinate to aid.
1803. Mackintosh, Def. Peltier, Wks. 1846, III. 274. The most learned incitement to assassinate that ever was addressed to such ignorant ruffians.
† 2. trans. To endeavor to kill by treacherous violence; to attack by an assassin. Obs.
1683. Apol. Prot. France, vi. 77. William of Orange was twice Assassinated, and lost his Life the Second time.
1705. De Foe, Jure Div., I. 19. Charles the Ninth carress’d the Admiral Coligni … Visited him when he had been Wounded, and Assassinated.
3. fig. To destroy or wound by treachery; to ‘stab’ reputation, etc.
1626. Massinger, Rom. Actor, II. i. Sufficient For thee that dost assassinate my soul.
1683. Dryden, Dk. Guise, V. (R.). Your rhimes assassinate our fame.
1850. Whipple, Ess. & Rev., I. 378. After his death they tried to assassinate his name.
