ATTEMPTED ASSAULT Meaning and
Definition
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Attempted assault refers to the intentional act of physically attacking or causing harm to another person, with the specific intention of causing bodily injury or instilling fear of immediate physical harm. However, unlike completed assault, an attempted assault does not result in causing actual physical harm to the victim. This term is often used in legal contexts to describe the act of knowingly and purposefully initiating an attack or violent action towards someone, but failing to successfully carry out the assault due to various reasons such as intervention by others, self-defense from the victim, or the attacker's own inability to follow through with the intended harm.
In legal systems, attempted assault is regarded as a criminal offense, as it demonstrates a clear intent and action towards inflicting harm on another individual. The severity of the offense can vary, depending on the jurisdiction and specific circumstances involved. Punishments for attempted assault typically range from fines and probation to imprisonment, depending on the applicable laws and the level of intent demonstrated by the assailant.
The concept of attempted assault highlights the importance of recognizing and preventing potentially harmful situations before they escalate into physical violence. It serves as a means to hold individuals accountable for their intent and actions, even if they were unable to carry out the assault.
Etymology of ATTEMPTED ASSAULT
The word "attempted" derives from the Latin word "attemptāre", which means "to strive after" or "to try". It comes from the combination of the Latin prefix "ad-" meaning "to" or "toward" and "temptāre" meaning "to test" or "to attempt".
The word "assault" originates from the Old French word "asaut" which means "violent attack". It has its roots in the Latin word "ex -" meaning "out" and "saltare" meaning "to jump or leap". In medieval Latin, "assultus" referred to a physical attack or an intense onslaught.
Therefore, the etymology of "attempted assault" can be understood as the combination of the Latin "attemptāre" meaning "to strive after" and the Old French "asaut" meaning "violent attack".
