assassinate

verb

1. 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[…].”

   “A Korean Communist selected as a vice chairman of the government for north Korea in the Russian occupied zone was assassinated as he was leaving a conference with Col. Gen. Chistjakoff, commander of the soviet 25th army, a Korean refugee said today.”

2. (figuratively)To harm, ruin, or defame severely or destroy by treachery, slander, libel, or obscure attack.

   “He assassinated his rival's character.”

   “Such uſage as your honourable Lords / Afford me aſſaſſinated and betray'd, […]”

   “But vvhen your Rhimes aſſaſſinate our Fame, / You hug your nauſeous, blund'ring Ballad-vvits, / And pay 'em as if Nonſence vvere a merit, / If it can mean but Treaſon.”

noun

1. (obsolete)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.”

2. (obsolete)An assassin.

   “Yet again, many of them deſperat hairebraines, raſh, careleſſe, fit to be Aſſaſinates, as being voide of all Feare and Sorrow […]”