in English Law, is an offer or attempt to hurt the person of another; as, if one lift up his cane or his fist in a threatening manner at another, or strike at him, but miss him, this is an assault; the actual touching of the person not being necessary to make the offence. Finch describes it to be "an unlawful setting upon one's person." No words whatsoever, be they ever so provoking, can amount to an assault. There are, however, opinions to the contrary.