assassin ???

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Magic79

#303317 Wed, 13 Dec 06 04:14 AM

According to Longman Advanced Dictionary of Contemporary English, assassin is defined as the following:

assassin: someone who murders an important person:
Kennedy's assassin is assumed to have been Lee Harvey Oswald.

My question is: could "assassin" also mean the one who hires another person to kill?

1) assassin = killer

2)assassin = one who pays the killer

Thanks for your help!

Magic79

Joined on Sun, Jul 2 2006

Full Member (167)

Grammar Geek

#303326 Wed, 13 Dec 06 05:11 AM

No, I would say not.

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (15,981)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Marius Hancu

#303329 Wed, 13 Dec 06 05:17 AM

Not in practical/strict terms, but for many they are murderers/killers in moral terms.

The planners/instigators may end up in the electric chair nonetheless. They are considered guilty, sometimes even more guilty than the hired hands.

Marius Hancu

Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006

Montreal, Canada

Veteran Member (11,673)

Grammar Geek

#303330 Wed, 13 Dec 06 05:21 AM

Well, it's not just in moral terms - legally they are still going to be prosecuted for murder if it's known who was involved. But the person who arranged the murder is not the "assassin."

Grammar Geek

Philip

#303460 Wed, 13 Dec 06 03:56 PM

Magic79 wrote:

My question is: could "assassin" also mean the one who hires another person to kill?

The origin of the word is the Arabic for 'hashish'. Those no-goods who got high on hashish could be hired to do just about anything, including murder.

Philip

Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005

USA Pacific Northwest (Seattle)

Veteran Member (6,270)

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