Main Entry:

as·sas·sin

Pronunciation:

\ə-ˈsa-s^ən\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Medieval Latin assassinus, from Arabic ḥashshāshīn, plural of ḥashshāsh worthless person, literally, hashish user, from hashīsh hashish

Date:

circa 1520

1capitalized : a member of a Shia Muslim sect who at the time of the Crusades was sent out on a suicidal mission to murder prominent enemies2: a person who commits murder ; especially : one who murders a politically important person either for hire or from fanatical motives