In"sult (?), n. [L. insultus,
fr. insilire to leap upon: cf. F. insulte. See
Insult, v. t.]
1. The act of leaping on; onset;
attack. [Obs.] Dryden.
2. Gross abuse offered to another, either by
word or act; an act or speech of insolence or contempt; an affront;
an indignity.
The ruthless sneer that insult adds to
grief.
Savage.
Syn. -- Affront; indignity; abuse; outrage; contumely. See
Affront.
In*sult" (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Insulted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Insulting.] [F. insulter, L. insultare, freq.
fr. insilire to leap into or upon; pref. in- in, on +
salire to leap. See Salient.]
1. To leap or trample upon; to make a sudden
onset upon. [Obs.] Shak.
2. To treat with abuse, insolence, indignity,
or contempt, by word or action; to abuse; as, to call a man a coward
or a liar, or to sneer at him, is to insult him.
In*sult", v. i. 1.
To leap or jump.
Give me thy knife, I will insult on
him.
Shak.
Like the frogs in the apologue, insulting upon
their wooden king.
Jer. Taylor.
2. To behave with insolence; to exult.
[Archaic]
The lion being dead, even hares
insult.
Daniel.
An unwillingness to insult over their helpless
fatuity.
Landor.
