assassinate means to murder someone, especially an important person, by a sudden or obscure attack, especially for ideological or political reasons. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 75 out of 100.
assassinate is pronounced /əˈsæsɪneɪt/.
Why “assassinate” is a great word
ASSASSINATE — [Verb] To murder someone, especially a prominent figure, by sudden or secret attack, typically for political or ideological motives. From assassin (from Medieval Latin assassīnus, from Arabic ḥashshāshīn, plural of ḥashshāsh, "hashish user") + the verbal suffix -ate, after Middle French assassiner. Unlike "execute," which cloaks killing in the cold sanction of the state, or "slay," a blunt and general felling, to assassinate is to wield a poisoned blade from the shadows for a cause. It is the crossbow bolt from a castle rampart, the silent pistol in a theater box, the ricin pellet on an umbrella tip—a violent argument made not to a jury, but directly to history.
Etymology
From assassin + -ate, after Middle French assassiner.
verb
- To murder someone, especially an important person, by a sudden or obscure attack, especially for ideological or political reasons.“The Assassines, a nation depending of Phœnicia, are esteemed among the Mahometists[…]. And thus was our Earle Raymond of Tripoli murthered or assassinated (this word is borrowed from their name) in the middest of his Citie, during the time of our warres in the holy land[…].”
- To harm, ruin, or defame severely or destroy by treachery, slander, libel, or obscure attack.“He assassinated his rival's character.”
noun
- Assassination, murder.“Mor. Why? if I had made an assassinate upon your Father; vitiated your Mother: ravished your Sisters―
Tru. I would kill you, Sir, I would kill you, if you had.
Mor. Why? you do more in this, Sir: it were a vengeance centuple, for all facinorous Acts, that could be nam'd, to do that you do.”
- An assassin.“Yet again, many of them deſperat hairebraines, raſh, careleſſe, fit to be Aſſaſinates, as being voide of all Feare and Sorrow […]”