assassinate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb murder; especially of socially prominent persons
    • Anwar Sadat was assassinated because many people did not like his peace politics with Israel
  2. verb destroy or damage seriously, as of someone's reputation
    • He assassinated his enemy's character

WordNet

As*sas"sin*ate transitive verb
Etymology
LL. assassinatus, p. p. of assassinare.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Assassinated present participle & verbal noun Assassinating
Definitions
  1. To kill by surprise or secret assault; to murder by treacherous violence.
    Help, neighbors, my house is broken open by force, and I am ravished, and like to be assassinated. Dryden.
  2. To assail with murderous intent; hence, by extended meaning, to maltreat exceedingly. Archaic
    Your rhymes assassinate our fame. Dryden.
    Such usage as your honorable lords Afford me, assassinated and betrayed. Milton.
    Syn. -- To kill; murder; slay. See Kill.
As*sas"sin*ate noun
Etymology
F. assassinat.
Definitions
  1. An assassination, murder, or murderous assault. Obs.
    If I had made an assassinate upon your father. B. Jonson.
  2. An assassin. Obs. Dryden.

Webster 1913