LEGAL term: Assault

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an intentional act by one person that creates an apprehension in another of an imminent harmful or offensive contact.

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Generally, the essential elements of assault consist of an act intended to cause an apprehension of harmful or offensive contact that causes apprehension of such contact in the victim.

The act required for an assault must be overt. Although words alone are insufficient, they might create an assault when coupled with some action that indicates the ability to carry out the threat. A mere threat to harm is not an assault; however, a threat combined with a raised fist might be sufficient if it causes a reasonable apprehension of harm in the victim.

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the threat or attempt to strike another, whether successful or not, provided the target is aware of the danger.

The assaulter must be reasonably capable of carrying through the attack. State laws distinguish between different degrees (first or second) of assault depending on whether there is actual hitting, injury or just a threat. "Aggravated assault" is an attack connected with the commission of another crime, such as beating a clerk during a robbery.

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