ag|gress

ag|gress «uh GREHS», intransitive verb.

to make the first attack; commit the act of hostility that begins a quarrel, war, etc.: »

You can't carve a new nation out of an old country without aggressing against a people who have lived there for centuries (Wall Street Journal).

–v.t.

to commit aggression against; attack: »

He is making the most of his…position as the aggressed and injured (New Yorker).

╂[< Latin aggressus, past participle of aggredī approach, attack < ad- to + gradī to step]