What defines assault in legal terms?

The correct definition of assault in legal terms encompasses an attempt or offer to use unlawful violence to inflict bodily harm on another person. This definition highlights the essential elements of assault, which include the intention behind the action and the potential for harm, even if physical contact does not occur.

Assault does not require that actual physical injury happens; instead, it focuses on the offer or attempt to cause harm that creates a reasonable apprehension of imminent violence in the victim. What makes this definition particularly relevant is that it conveys the readiness to engage in violent behavior, establishing the seriousness of the threat made against an individual.

In contrast, the other choices do not fully capture the legal nuances of assault. A merely threatening someone without any accompanying actions may evoke fear but lacks the element of an attempt at violence necessary to constitute legal assault. Physical harm is close to definition but does not address the potential act of violence or the apprehension it creates, while verbal threats alone do not equate to assault unless they are coupled with an intention or plan to act violently. Thus, the focus on unlawful violence as the defining element in the correct choice encapsulates the essence of assault in a legal context effectively.