What defines an act of assault?

An act of assault is legally defined as the threat of force or imminent harmful contact that causes a reasonable apprehension of such a threat in the victim. This definition aligns with the correct option, which emphasizes the intent to harm through the threat of force. Importantly, assault does not require physical harm to have occurred; rather, the focus is on the perception of danger or imminent harm by the victim.

In the context of the other choices, actual physical harm refers to battery rather than assault, which involves actual contact and injury. Verbal harassment can be distressing but does not necessarily equate to a legal threat unless it includes a credible threat of harm. Unintentional harm is not related to the definition of assault since the focus is on intent and the threat of force rather than on accidental occurrences. Therefore, the emphasis on intent and the fear of harm clearly defines the nature of assault, making the choice about the threat of force with intent to harm the correct understanding of the act.