First Known Use: circa 1520
Dictionary
assassin
noun as·sas·sin \ə-ˈsa-sən\
: a person who kills someone (such as a famous or important person) usually for political reasons or for money : a person who assassinates someone
Full Definition of ASSASSIN
1
capitalized : a member of a Shia Muslim sect who at the time of the Crusades was sent out on a suicidal mission to murder prominent enemies
2
: a person who commits murder; especially : one who murders a politically important person either for hire or from fanatical motives
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Origin of ASSASSIN
Medieval Latin assassinus, from Arabic ḥashshāshīn, plural of ḥashshāsh worthless person, literally, hashish user, from hashīsh hashish
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Rhymes with ASSASSIN
ASSASSIN Defined for Kids
assassin
noun as·sas·sin \ə-ˈsa-ˌsən\
Definition of ASSASSIN for Kids
: someone who kills another person usually for pay or from loyalty to a cause
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