assassination
noun
- murder of a prominent person, often a political leader or ruler
- to murder
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /əˌsæs.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/
noun
Etymology: Etymology tree English assassin English -ate English assassinate Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin -ātiōlbor. Old French -ationbor. Middle English -acioun English -ation English -ion English assassination From assassinate + -ion.
- The murder of a person, especially for political reasons or for personal gain.
“The assassination of the king occurred at night.”
“But side by side with it was a baser conspiracy, among the more unprincipled and desperate friends of James, for the assassination of the King.”