Crossword Genius

Attack a fool and suffer afterwards (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

assail

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'attack' is the definition.
(I know that attack can be written as assail)

'a fool and suffer afterwards' is the wordplay.
'a fool' becomes 'ass' (both can mean a stupid person).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'suffer afterwards' becomes 'ail' (ailing is a kind of suffering. I am not sure about the 'afterwards' bit.).
'ass'+'ail'='ASSAIL'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for assail that I've seen before include "Attack violently and persistently" , "Assault, attack" , "Set upon" , "Slate" , "Launch an attack" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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