assassin Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a murderer (especially one who kills a prominent political figure) who kills by a surprise attack and often is hired to do the deed
    bravo; assassinator.
    • his assassins were hunted down like animals
    • assassinators of kings and emperors
  2. noun a member of a secret order of Muslims (founded in the 12th century) who terrorized and killed Christian Crusaders

WordNet

As*sas"sin noun
Etymology
F. (cf. It. assassino), fr. Ar. hashishin one who has drunk of the hashish. Under its influence the Assassins of the East, followers of the Shaikh al-Jabal (Old Man of the Mountain), were said to commit the murders required by their chief.
Definitions
  1. One who kills, or attempts to kill, by surprise or secret assault; one who treacherously murders any one unprepared for defense.
As*sas"sin transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To assassinate. Obs. Stillingfleet.

Webster 1913