assassinate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to murder a prominent person by sudden or secret attack

   Conspirators plotted to assassinate the visiting head of state.

From Medieval Latin assassinatus, from assassinus ('assassin'), via Italian from Arabic ḥashshāshīn ('hashish-eaters'), a name applied to a sect of Nizari Ismailis in the medieval Levant.

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