Monday, February 16, 2009

Oh Word?


You are really going to have to display some enthusiasm for word etymology if we are going to be friends, kids. Today's word: ASSASSIN!


"n. Murderer, generally somewhat professional; esp. one who murders a prominent figure.

During the time of the Crusades the members of a certain secret Muslim sect engaged people to terrorize their Christian enemies by performing murders as a religious duty. These acts were carried out under the influence of hashish, and so the killers became known as hashshashin, meaning eaters or smokers of hashish. Hashshashin evolved into the word assassin."

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