onfall
Definition
Noun - An attack or assault: "onfall" refers to a sudden or vigorous attack, as in a military or combative context. - The soldiers prepared for the onfall of the enemy. (They readied themselves for the enemy's assault.)
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The castle walls held firm against the onfall of the besieging army. (The walls withstood the attack.)
- His unexpected onfall caught the guards off guard. (His sudden assault surprised the guards.)
Advanced Usage
"to suffer an onfall": to experience an attack.
- The village suffered a brutal onfall from raiders. (The village was violently attacked.)
"to repel an onfall": to successfully defend against an attack.
- The knights managed to repel every onfall. (The knights fought back against each assault.)
Variants and Related Words
Onfalling (adj): describing something that attacks or assaults.
- The onfalling storm brought destruction to the coast. (The storm attacked the coast violently.)
Fall on (phrasal verb): to attack or assault someone suddenly.
- The bandits fell on the travelers without warning. (The bandits attacked the travelers suddenly.)
Synonyms
- Assault: a violent physical or verbal attack.
- Onslaught: a fierce or destructive attack.
- Charge: a rush forward to attack.
Related Idioms
To come under onfall: to be attacked.
- The outpost came under onfall from all sides. (The outpost was attacked from every direction.)
To lead the onfall: to be the first to attack.
- The general himself led the onfall against the fortress. (The general personally initiated the assault.)