Definition:
The Assassins: A group of 8th to 14th century special agents in Persia and Syria who specialized in political murders. The Assassins were members of the secretive Muslim group called the Nizaris, who violently opposed the Abbasid caliphate.
The word "assassin" comes from a derogatory word, hassasin, which means "hashish users." Rumors (probably false) spread across the Middle East and Europe that young Nizaris were kept high on hashish during training, so that they would follow orders and carry out their suicide attacks unquestioningly.
Pronunciation: "uh-SASS-ins"
Also Known As: Fedayeen, al-da'wa al-jadida
Alternate Spellings: Hashshashin, Hashishin, Hashashiyyin, Hashasheen
Examples:
"The final stronghold of the Assassins was destroyed by the Mongols under Hulegu Khan, in 1272."
