'assaultive' originates from English, specifically from the noun 'assault', which ultimately comes from Old French 'assaut' and Latin 'assultus' (from the verb 'assilire'), where the prefix 'ad-' meant 'to/toward' and the root 'salire' meant 'to leap.'

'assaultive' changed from Latin 'assultus' to Old French 'assaut' and then to Middle English 'assault'; the modern adjective was formed in English by adding the suffix '-ive' to 'assault.'

Initially it referred to 'a leaping upon' or 'an attack' (physical assault); over time it evolved to the adjectival sense of 'relating to or tending to carry out an assault' or 'having an aggressive/violent character.'