Is A liable for assault after threatening to waylay B on a lonely road?

The correct answer is that A is liable for assault because A's actions constituted a threat that could create an apprehension of imminent harm in B. Under tort law principles, a person can be found liable for assault even if there isn't a physical attack, as long as their conduct creates a reasonable apprehension of harmful or offensive contact.

In this case, A's threat to waylay B can reasonably be interpreted as a credible indication of intent to inflict harm, particularly considering the context of being on a lonely road, which adds to the potential for apprehension. B's feeling of apprehension is central to establishing assault.

While the option suggests that there must be a combination of words and actions to establish liability, the mere act of threatening combined with the context can meet the threshold for liability. The law recognizes that mere words can constitute assault if they incite reasonable fear or apprehension of immediate harm.