ASSIENTO, as-[=e]-en'to, _n._ a word especially applied to an exclusive
contract between Spain and some foreign nation for the supply of African
slaves for its American possessions. [Sp., a seat, a seat in a court, a
treaty.]
ASSIGN, as-s[=i]n', _v.t._ to sign or mark out to one: to allot: to
appoint: to allege: to transfer: to ascribe or refer to: to suggest: to
fix, as a time: to point out exactly.--_n._ one to whom any property or
right is made over: (_pl._) appendages (_Shak._).--_adj._ ASSIGN'ABLE, that
may be assigned.--_ns._ ASSIGN[=A]'TION, an appointment to meet, used
chiefly of love-trysts, and mostly in a bad sense: (_Scots law_) the making
over of any right to another, equivalent to ASSIGNMENT; ASSIGNEE
(as-sin-[=e]'), one to whom any right or property is assigned: (_pl._) the
trustees of a sequestrated estate; ASSIGN'MENT, act of assigning: anything
assigned: the writing by which a transfer is made: (_Spens._) design.
[Fr.--L. _assign[=a]re_, to mark out--_ad_, to, _signum_, a mark or sign.]
ASSIGNAT, as-sin-yä', _n._ one of the notes (chiefly for 100 francs = £4
each) in the paper currency first issued in 1790 by the French
revolutionary government as bonds on the security of the appropriated
church lands.
ASSIMILATE, as-sim'il-[=a]t, _v.t._ to make similar or like to: to convert
into a like substance, as food in our bodies (with _to_, _with_).--_v.i._
to become like, or to be incorporated in.--_n._ ASSIM'ILABILITY
(_Coleridge_).--_adj._ ASSIM'ILABLE.--_n._ ASSIMIL[=A]'TION.--_adj._
ASSIM'IL[=A]TIVE, having the power or tendency to assimilate. [L.
_assimil[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_ad_, to, _similis_, like.]
ASSIST, as-sist', _v.t._ to help.--_v.i._ to be present at a ceremony:
(_Shak._) to accompany.--_n._ ASSIST'ANCE, help: relief.--_adj._
ASSIST'ANT, helping or lending aid.--_n._ one who assists: a helper. [L.
_assist[)e]re_, to stand by--_ad_, to, _sist[)e]re_.]
ASSIZE, as-s[=i]z', _v.t._ to assess: to set or fix the quantity or
price.--_n._ a statute settling the weight, measure, or price of anything:
(_Scot._) a trial by jury, the jury: judgment, sentence, the Last Judgment:
(_pl._) the sessions or sittings of a court held periodically in English
counties, at which causes are tried by judges of the High Court of Justice
on circuit and a jury.--_n._ ASSIZ'ER, an officer who inspects weights and
measures. [O. Fr. _assise_, an assembly of judges, a set
rate--_asseoir_--L. _assid[=e]re_.]
ASSOCIATE, as-s[=o]'shi-[=a]t, _v.t._ to join with, as a friend or partner:
to unite in the same body.--_v.i._ to keep company (_with_): to combine or
unite.--_ns._ ASSOCIABIL'ITY, ASS[=O]'CIABLENESS.--_adjs._ ASS[=O]'CIABLE,
that may be joined or associated: sociable: companionable; ASS[=O]'CIATE,
joined or connected with.--_n._ one joined or connected with another: a
companion, friend, partner, or ally.--_ns._ ASS[=O]'CIATESHIP, office of an
associate; ASSOCI[=A]'TION, act of associating: union or combination: a
society of persons joined together to promote some object.--_adj._
ASS[=O]'CI[=A]TIVE, tending to association.--ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL, the game
as formulated by the Football Association (formed in 1863).--ASSOCIATION
(OF IDEAS), applied to laws of mental combination which facilitate
recollection: similarity: contiguity, repetition. [L. _associ[=a]tum_,
_associ[=a]re_--_ad_, to _socius_, a companion.]
ASSOIL, as-soil', _v.t._ to loosen from: to absolve or acquit: to solve:
(_Spens._) to remove, to let loose, to renew, to get rid of.--_n._
ASSOIL'MENT. [Through Fr. from L.--L. _ab_, from, _solv[)e]re_, to loose.]
ASSOIL, as-soil', _v.t._ to soil, stain, or make dirty. [L. _ad_, and SOIL.
See SOIL (2).]
ASSOILZIE, as-soil'y[=e], _v.i._ to free one accused from a charge: a Scots
law term, the same as the archaic _assoil_, to absolve from sin, discharge,
pardon. See ABSOLVITOR, under ABSOLVE. [Through Fr. from L.
_absolv[)e]re_.]
ASSONANCE, as'son-ans, _n._ a correspondence in sound: in Spanish and
Portuguese poetry, a kind of rhyme, consisting in the coincidence of the
vowels of the corresponding syllables, without regard to the consonants, as
in _mate_ and _shape_, _feel_ and _need_.--_adjs._ AS'SSONANT, resembling
in sound; AS'SONANTAL, AS'SONANTIC.--_v.t._ AS'SONATE, to correspond in
sound. [Fr.--L. _asson[=a]re_, _as_ = _ad-_, to, _son[=a]re_, to sound.]
ASSORT, as-sort', _v.t._ to separate into classes: to arrange.--_v.i._ to
agree or be in accordance with: to fall into a class with, suit well with:
(_arch._) to keep company with.--_p.adj._ ASSORT'ED, classified, arranged
in sorts.--_ns._ ASSORT'EDNESS; ASSORT'MENT, act of assorting: a quantity
or number of things assorted: variety. [Fr. _assortir_--L. _ad_, to,
_sors_, a lot.]
ASSOT, as-sot', _v.t._ (_Spens._) to besot, to infatuate.--_p.adj._ ASSOT',
or ASSOT'TED (_Spens._), infatuated. [O. Fr. _asoter_--_à_, to, _sot_,
foolish. See SOT.]
ASSUAGE, as-sw[=a]j', _v.t._ to soften, mitigate, or allay.--_v.i._ to
abate or subside: to diminish.--_n._ ASSUAGE'MENT, abatement:
mitigation.--_adj._ ASSU[=A]'SIVE, softening, mild. [O. Fr., formed as if
from a L. _assuavi[=a]re_--_ad_, to, _suavis_, mild.]
ASSUBJUGATE, as-sub'j[=oo]-g[=a]t, _v.t._ (_Shak._) to reduce to
subjugation.
ASSUEFACTION, as-w[=e]-fak'shun, _n._ (_Sir T. Browne_) the act of
accustoming, habituation. [L. _assuefac[)e]re_--_assuetus_, accustomed, and
_fac[)e]re_, to make.]