Asses' Bridge. [L. pons asinorum.] The fifth proposition of the first book of Euclid, "The angles at the base of an isosceles triangle are equal to one another." [Sportive] "A schoolboy, stammering out his Asses' Bridge." F. Harrison. -- To make an ass of one's self, to do or say something very foolish or absurd.
As`sa*fœt"i*da (&?;), n. Same as Asafetida.
As"sa*gai (&?;), As"se*gai (&?;), n. [Pg. azagaia, Sp. azagaya, fr. a Berber word. Cf. Lancegay.] A spear used by tribes in South Africa as a missile and for stabbing, a kind of light javelin.
||As*sa"i (&?;). [It., fr. L. ad + satis enough. See Assets.] (Mus.) A direction equivalent to very; as, adagio assai, very slow.
As*sail" (s*sl"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assailed (-sld"); p. pr. & vb. n. Assailing.] [OE. assailen, asailen, OF. asaillir, assailler, F. assaillir; a (L. ad) + saillir to burst out, project, fr. L. salire to leap, spring; cf. L. assilire to leap or spring upon. See Sally.] 1. To attack with violence, or in a vehement and hostile manner; to assault; to molest; as, to assail a man with blows; to assail a city with artillery.
No rude noise mine ears assailing.
Cowper.
No storm can now assail
The charm he wears within.
Keble.
2. To encounter or meet purposely with the view of mastering, as an obstacle, difficulty, or the like.
The thorny wilds the woodmen fierce assail.
Pope.
3. To attack morally, or with a view to produce changes in the feelings, character, conduct, existing usages, institutions; to attack by words, hostile influence, etc.; as, to assail one with appeals, arguments, abuse, ridicule, and the like.
The papal authority . . . assailed.
Hallam.
They assailed him with keen invective; they assailed him with still keener irony.
Macaulay.
Syn. -- To attack; assault; invade; encounter; fall upon. See Attack.
As*sail"a*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being assailed.
As*sail"ant (&?;), a. [F. assaillant, p. pr. of assaillir.] Assailing; attacking. Milton.
As*sail"ant, n. [F. assaillant.] One who, or that which, assails, attacks, or assaults; an assailer.
An assailant of the church.
Macaulay.
As*sail"er (&?;), n. One who assails.