\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.