Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1st 100 Pages)

by Noah Webster

<— p. 90 —>

2. A mark of aspiration (?) used in Greek; the asper, or rough breathing. Bentley. 3. An elementary sound produced by the breath alone; a surd, or nonvocal consonant; as, f, th in thin, etc. As¶piÏrate (?), As¶piÏra¶ted (?), } a. [L. aspiratus, p. p.] Pronounced with the h sound or with audible breath. But yet they are not aspirate, i. e., with such an aspiration as h. Holder. As·piÏra¶tion (?), n. [L. aspiratio, fr. aspirare: cf. F. aspiration.] 1. The act of aspirating; the pronunciation of a letter with a full or strong emission of breath; an aspirated sound. If aspiration be defined to be an impetus of breathing. Wilkins. 2. The act of breathing; a breath; an inspiration. 3. The act of aspiring of a ardently desiring; strong wish; high desire. ½Aspirations after virtue.¸ Johnson. Vague aspiration after military renown. Prescott. As¶piÏra·tor (?), n. 1. (Chem.) An apparatus for passing air or gases through or over certain liquids or solids, or for exhausting a closed vessel, by means of suction. 2. (Med.) An instrument for the evacuation of the fluid contents of tumors or collections of blood. AsÏpir¶aÏtoÏry (?), a. Of or pertaining to breathing; suited to the inhaling of air AsÏpire¶ (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Aspired (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Aspiring.] [F. aspirer, L. aspirare. See Aspirate, v. t.] 1. To desire with eagerness; to seek to attain something high or great; to pant; to long; Ð followed by to or after, and rarely by at; as, to aspire to a crown; to aspire after immorality. Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell; Aspiring to be angels, men rebel. Pope. 2. To rise; to ascend; to tower; to soar. My own breath still foments the fire, Which flames as high as fancy can aspire. Waller. AsÏpire¶, v. t. To ~ to; to long for; to try to reach; to mount to. [Obs.] That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds. Shak. AsÏpire¶, n. Aspiration. [Obs.] Chapman. AsÏpire¶ment (?), n. Aspiration. [Obs.] AsÏpir¶er (?), n. One who aspires. AsÏpir¶ing, a. That aspires; as, an Aspiring mind. Ð AsÏpir¶ingÏly, adv. Ð AsÏpir¶ingÏness, n. Asp¶ish (?), a. Pertaining to, or like, an asp. As·porÏta¶tion (?), n. [L. asportatio, fr. asportare to carry away; abs = ab + portare to bear, carry.] (Law) The felonious removal of goods from the place where they were deposited. µ It is adjudged to be larceny, though the goods are not carried from the house or apartment. Blackstone. AÏsprawl¶ (?), adv. & a. Sprawling. AÏsquat¶ (?), adv. & a. Squatting. AÏsquint¶ (?), adv. [Cf. Askant, Squint.] With the eye directed to one side; not in the straight line of vision; obliquely; awry, so as to see distortedly; as, to look asquint. Ass (?), n. [OE. asse, AS. assa; akin to Icel. asni, W. asen, asyn, L. asinus, dim. aselus, Gr. ?; also to AS. esol, OHG. esil, G. esel, Goth. asilus, Dan. ‘sel, Lith. asilas, Bohem. osel, Pol. osiel. The word is prob. of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. ath?n she ~. Cf. Ease.] 1. (Zo”l.) A quadruped of the genus Equus (E. asinus), smaller than the horse, and having a peculiarly harsh bray and long ears. The tame or domestic ~ is patient, slow, and sureÐfooted, and has become the type of obstinacy and stupidity. There are several species of wild asses which are swiftÐfooted. 2. A dull, heavy, stupid fellow; a dolt. Shak. Asses' Bridge. [L. pons asinorum.] The fifth proposition of the first book of Euclid, ½The angles at the base of an isosceles triangle are equal to one another.¸ [Sportive] ½A schoolboy, stammering out his Asses' Bridge.¸ F. Harrison. Ð To make an ~ of one's self, to do or say something very foolish or absurd. As·saÏf?t¶iÏda (?), n. Same as Asafetida. As¶saÏgai (?), As¶seÏgai (?), n. [Pg. azagaia, Sp. azagaya, fr. a Berber word. Cf. Lancegay.] A spear used by tribes in South Africa as a missile and for stabbing, a kind of light javelin. Ø AsÏsa¶i (?). [It., fr. L. ad + satis enough. See Assets.] (Mus.) A direction equiv?lent to very; as, adagio assai, very slow. AsÏsail¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assailed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Assailing.] [OE. assailen, asailen, OF. asaillir, assailler, F. assaillir; ? (L. ad) + saillir to burst out, project, fr. L. salire to leap, spring; cf. L. assilire to leap or spring upon. See Sally.] 1. To attack with violence, or in a vehement and hostile manner; to assault; to molest; as, to assail ? man with blows; to assail a city with artillery. No rude noise mine ears assailing. Cowper. No storm can now assail The charm he wears within. Keble. 2. To encounter or meet purposely with the v??? of ??stering, as an obstacle, difficulty, or the like. The thorny wilds the woodmen fierce assail. Pope. 3. To attack morally, or with a view to produce ?anges in the feelings, character, conduct, existing usages, institutions; to attack by words, hostile influence, etc.; as, to assail one with appeals, arguments, abuse, ridicule, and the like. The papal authority… assailed. Hallam. They assailed him with keen invective; they assailed him with still keener irony.

Macaulay.
Syn. - To attack; assault; invade; encounter; fall upon. See Attack.
AsÏsail¶aÏble (?), a. Capable of being assailed.
AsÏsail¶ant (?), a. [F. assaillant, p. pr. of assaillir.] Assailing; attacking.
Milton.
AsÏsail¶ant, n. [F. assaillant.] One who, or that which, assails, attacks, or assaults; an assailer.
An assailant of the church.
Macaulay.
AsÏsail¶er (?), n. One who assails.
AsÏsail¶ment (?), n. The act or power of assailing; attack; assault. [R.]
His most frequent assailment was the headache.
Johnson.
As¶saÏmar (?), n. [L. assare to roast + amarus, bitter.] (Chem.) The peculiar bitter substance, soft or liquid, and of a yellow color, produced when meat, bread, gum, sugar, starch, and the like, are roasted till they turn brown.
As·samÏese¶ (?), a. Of or pertaining to Assam, a province of British India, or to its inhabitants. Ð n. sing. & pl. A native or natives of Assam.
Ø As·saÏpan¶ (?), Ø As·saÏpan¶ic (?), n. [Prob. Indian name.] (Zo”l.) The American flying squirrel (Pteromys volucella).
AsÏsart¶ , n. [OF. essart the grubbing up of trees, fr. essarter to grub up or clear ground of bushes, shrubs, trees, etc., fr. LL. exartum, exartare, for exsaritare; L. ex + sarire, sarrire, saritum, to hoe, weed.] 1. (Old Law) The act or offense of grubbing up trees and bushes, and thus destroying the tickets or coverts of a forest.
Spelman. Cowell.
2. A piece of land cleared of trees and bushes, and fitted for cultivation; a clearing.
Ash.
÷ land, forest land cleared of woods and brush.
AsÏsart¶, v. t. To grub up, as trees; to commit an ~ upon; as, to assart land or trees.
Ashmole.
AsÏsas¶sin (?), n. [F. (cf. It. assassino), fr. Ar. ?hashishin one who has drunk of the hashish. Under its influence the Assassins of the East, followers of the Shaikh alÐJabal (Old Man of the Mountain), were said to commit the murders required by their chief.] One who kills, or attempts to kill, by surprise or secret assault; one who treacherously murders any one unprepared for defense.
AsÏsas¶sin, v. t. To assassinate. [Obs.]
Stillingfleet.
AsÏsas¶sinÏate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assassinated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Assassinating (?).] [LL. assassinatus, p. p. of assassinare.] 1. To kill by surprise or secret assault; to murder by treacherous violence.
Help, neighbors, my house is broken open by force, and I am ravished, and like to be assassinated.
Dryden.
2. To assail with murderous intent; hence, by extended meaning, to maltreat exceedingly. [Archaic]
Your rhymes assassinate our fame.
Dryden.
Such usage as your honorable lords
Afford me, assassinated and betrayed.
Milton.
Syn. - To kill; murder; slay. See Kill.
AsÏsas¶sinÏate (?), n. [F. assassinat.] 1. An assassination, murder, or murderous assault. [Obs.]
If i had made an assassinate upon your father.
B. Jonson.
2. An assassin. [Obs.]
Dryden.
AsÏsas·siÏna¶tion (?), n. The act of assassinating; a killing by treacherous violence.
AsÏsas¶siÏna·tor (?), n. An assassin.
AsÏsas¶sinÏous (?), a. Murderous.
Milton.
AsÏsas¶tion (?), n. [F., fr. LL. assatio, fr. L. assare to roast.] Roasting. [Obs.]
Sir T. Browne.
AsÏsault¶ (?), n. [OE. asaut, assaut, OF. assaut, asalt, F. assaut, LL. assaltus; L. ad + saltus a leaping, a springing, salire to leap. See Assail.] 1. A violent onset or attack with physical means, as blows, weapons, etc.; an onslaught; the rush or charge of an attacking force; onset; as, to make assault upon a man, a house, or a town.
The Spanish general prepared to renew the assault.
Prescott.
Unshaken bears the assault
Of their most dreaded foe, the strong southwest.
Wordsworth.
2. A violent onset or attack with moral weapons, as words, arguments, appeals, and the like; as, to make an assault on the prerogatives of a prince, or on the constitution of a government.
Clarendon.
3. (Law) An apparently violent attempt, or ? offer with force or violence, to do hurt to another; an attempt or offer to beat another, accompanied by a degree of violence, but without touching his person, as by lifting the fist, or a cane, in a threatening manner, or by striking at him, and missing him. If the blow aimed takes effect, it is a battery.
Blackstone. Wharton.
Practically, however, the word assault is used to include the battery.
Mozley & W.
Syn. - Attack; invasion; incursion; descent; onset; onslaught; charge; storm.
AsÏsault¶, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assaulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Assaulting.] From Assault, n.: cf. OF. assaulter, LL. assaltare.] 1. To make an ~ upon, as by a sudden rush of armed men; to attack with unlawful or insulting physical violence or menaces.
Insnared, assaulted, overcome, led bound.
Milton.
2. To attack with moral means, or with a view of producing moral effects; to attack by words, arguments, or unfriendly measures; to assail; as, to assault a reputation or an administration.
Before the gates, the cries of babes newborn,…
Assault his ears.
Dryden.
µ In the latter sense, assail is more common.
Syn. - To attack; assail; invade; encounter; storm; charge. See Attack.
AsÏsaut¶aÏble (?), a. Capable of being assaulted.
AsÏsault¶er (?), n. One who assaults, or violently attacks; an assailant.
E. Hall.
AsÏsay¶ (?), n. [OF. asai, essai, trial, F. essa. See Essay, n.] 1. Trial; attempt; essay. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
I am withal persuaded that it may prove much more easy in the assay than it now seems at distance.
Milton.
2. Examination and determination; test; as, an assay of bread or wine. [Obs.]
This can not be, by no assay of reason.
Shak.
3. Trial by danger or by affliction; adventure; risk; hardship; state of being tried. [Obs.]
Through many hard assays which did betide.
Spenser.
4. Tested purity or value. [Obs.]
With gold and pearl of rich assay.
Spenser.
5. (Metallurgy) The act or process of ascertaining the proportion of a particular metal in an ore or alloy; especially, the determination of the proportion of gold or silver in bullion or coin.
6. The alloy or metal to be assayed.
Ure.
[Assay and essay are radically the same word; but modern usage has appropriated assay chiefly to experiments in metallurgy, and essay to intellectual and bodily efforts. See Essay.]
µ Assay is used adjectively or as the first part of a compound; as, assay balance, assay furnace.
÷ master, an officer who assays or tests gold or silver coin or bullion. Ð ÷ ton, a weight of 29.166% grams.
AsÏsay¶, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Assaying.] [OF. asaier, essaier, F. essayer, fr. essai. See Assay, n., Essay, v.] 1. To try; to attempt; to apply. [Obs. or Archaic]
ToÐnight let us assay our plot.
Shak.
Soft words to his fierce passion she assayed.
Milton.
2. To affect. [Obs.]
When the heart is ill assayed.
Spenser.
3. To try tasting, as food or drink. [Obs.]
4. To subject, as an ore, alloy, or other metallic compound, to chemical or metallurgical examination, in order to determine the amount of a particular metal contained in it, or to ascertain its composition.
AsÏsay¶, v. i. To attempt, try, or endeavor. [Archaic. In this sense essay is now commonly used.]
She thrice assayed to speak.
Dryden.
AsÏsay¶aÏble (?), a. That may be assayed.
AsÏsay¶er , n. One who assays. Specifically: One who examines metallic ores or compounds, for the purpose of determining the amount of any particular metal in the same, especially of gold or silver.
AsÏsay¶ing, n. The act or process of testing, esp. of analyzing or examining metals and ores, to determine the proportion of pure metal.
Ø Asse (?), n. (Zo”l.) A small foxlike animal (Vulpes cama) of South Africa, valued for its fur.
As·seÏcuÏra¶tion (?), n. [LL. assecuratio, fr. assecurare.] Assurance; certainty. [Obs.]
As·seÏcure¶ (?), v. t. [LL. assecurare.] To make sure or safe; to assure. [Obs.]
Hooker.
As·seÏcu¶tion (?), n. [F. ass‚cution, fr. L. assequi to obtain; ad + sequi to follow.] An obtaining or acquiring. [Obs.]
Ayliffe.
As¶seÏgai (?), n. Same as Assagai.
AsÏsem¶blage , n. [Cf. F. assemblage. See Assemble.] 1. The act of assembling, or the state o? being; association.
In sweet assemblage every blooming grace.
Fen???.
2. A collection of individuals, or of individuals, or of particular things; as, a political assemblage; an assemblage of ideas.
Syn. - Company; group; collection; concourse; gathering; meeting; convention. Assemblage, Assembly. An assembly consists only of persons; an assemblage may be composed of things as well as persons, as, an assemblage of incoherent objects. Nor is every assemblage of persons an assembly; since the latter term denotes a body who have met, and are acting, in concert for some common end, such as to hear, to deliberate, to unite in music, dancing, etc. An assemblage of skaters on a lake, or of horse jockeys at a race course, is not an assembly, but might be turned into one by collecting into a body with a view to discuss and decide as to some object of common interest.
AsÏsem¶blance , n. [Cf. OF. assemblance.] 1. Resemblance; likeness; appearance. [Obs.]
Care I for the… stature, bulk, and big assemblance of a man ? Give me the spirit.
Shak.
2. An assembling; assemblage. [Obs.]
To weete [know] the cause of their assemblance.
Spenser.
AsÏsem¶ble (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assembled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Assembling (?).] [F. assembler, fr. LL. assimulare to bring together to collect; L. ad + simul together; akin to similis like, Gr. ? at the same time, and E. same. Cf. Assimilate, Same.] To collect into one place or body; to bring or call together; to convene; to congregate.
Thither he assembled all his train.
Milton.
All the men of Israel assembled themselves.
1 Kings viii. 2.
AsÏsem¶ble, v. i. To meet or come together, as a number of individuals; to convene; to congregate.
Dryden.

The Parliament assembled in November. W. Massey. AsÏsem¶ble, v. i. To liken; to compare. [Obs.] Bribes may be assembled to pitch. Latimer. AsÏsem¶bler (?), n. One who assembles a number of individuals; also, one of a number assembled. AsÏsem¶bly (?), n.; pl. Assemblies (?). [F. assembl‚e, fr. assembler. See Assemble.] 1. A company of persons collected together in one place, and usually for some common purpose, esp. for deliberation and legislation, for worship, or for social entertainment. 2. A collection of inanimate objects. [Obs.] Howell. 3. (Mil.) A beat of the drum or sound of the bugle as a signal to troops to assemble. µ In some of the United States, the legislature, or the popular branch of it, is called the Assembly, or the General Assembly. In the Presbyterian Church, the General Assembly is the highest ecclesiastical tribunal, composed of ministers and ruling elders delegated from each presbytery; as, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, or of Scotland.

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Assembly room, a room in which persons assemble, especially for dancing. Ð Unlawful assembly (Law), a meeting of three or more persons on a common plan, in such a way as to cause a reasonable apprehension that they will disturb the peace tumultuously. Ð Westminster Assembly, a convocation, consisting chiefly of divines, which, by act of Parliament, assembled July 1, 1643, and remained in session some years. It framed the ½Confession of Faith,¸ the ½Larger Catechism,¸ and the ½Shorter Catechism,¸ which are still received as authority by Presbyterians, and are substantially accepted by Congregationalists.
Syn. - See Assemblage.
AsÏsem¶blyÏman (?), n.; pl. Assemblymen (?). A member of an assembly, especially of the lower branch of a state legislature.
AsÏsent¶, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assented; p. pr. & vb. n. Assenting.] [ F. assentir, L. assentire, assentiri; ad + sentire to feel, think. See Sense.] To admit a thing as true; to express one's agreement, acquiescence, concurrence, or concession.
Who informed the governor… And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.
Acts xxiv. 9.
The princess assented to all that was suggested.
Macaulay.
Syn. - To yield; agree; acquiesce; concede; concur.
AsÏsent¶ (?), n. [OE. assent, fr. assentir. See Assent, v.] The act of assenting; the act of the mind in admitting or agreeing to anything; concurrence with approval; consent; agreement; acquiescence.
Faith is the assent to any proposition, on the credit of the proposer.
Locke.
The assent, if not the approbation, of the prince.
Prescott.
Too many people read this ribaldry with assent and admiration.
Macaulay.
Royal ~, in England, the ~ of the sovereign to a bill which has passed both houses of Parliament, after which it becomes law.
Syn. - Concurrence; acquiescence; approval; accord. Ð Assent, Consent. Assent is an act of the understanding, consent of the will or feelings. We assent to the views of others when our minds come to the same conclusion with theirs as to what is true, right, or admissible. We consent when there is such a concurrence of our will with their desires and wishes that we decide to comply with their requests. The king of England gives his assent, not his consent, to acts of Parliament, because, in theory at least, he is not governed by personal feelings or choice, but by a deliberate, judgment as to the common good. We also use assent in cases where a proposal is made which involves but little interest or feeling. A lady may assent to a gentleman's opening the window; but if he offers himself in marriage, he must wait for her consent.
As·senÏta¶tion (?), n. [L. assentatio. See Assent, v.] Insincere, flattering, or obsequious assent; hypocritical or pretended concurrence.
Abject flattery and indiscriminate assentation degrade as much as indiscriminate contradiction and noisy debate disgust.
Ld. Chesterfield.
As·senÏta¶tor , n. [L., fr. assentari to assent constantly.] An obsequious; a flatterer. [R.]
AsÏsent¶aÏtoÏry (?), a. Flattering; obsequious. [Obs.] Ð AsÏsent¶aÏtoÏriÏly, adv. [Obs.]
AsÏsent¶er (?), n. One who assents.
AsÏsen¶tient , a. Assenting.
AsÏsent¶ing (?), a. Giving or implying assent. Ð AsÏsent¶ingÏly, adv.
AsÏsent¶ive (?), a. Giving assent; of the nature of assent; complying. Ð AsÏsent¶iveÏness, n.
AsÏsent¶ment , n. Assent; agreement. [Obs.]
AsÏsert¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Asserted; p. pr. & vb. n. Asserting.] [L. assertus, p. p. of asserere to join or fasten to one's self, claim, maintain; ad + serere to join or bind together. See Series.] 1. To affirm; to declare with assurance, or plainly and strongly; to state positively; to aver; to asseverate.
Nothing is more shameful… than to assert anything to be done without a cause.
Ray.
2. To maintain; to defend. [Obs. or Archaic]
That… I may assert Eternal Providence,
And justify the ways of God to men.
Milton.
I will assert it from the scandal.
Jer. Taylor.
3. To maintain or defend, as a cause or a claim, by words or measures; to vindicate a claim or title to; as, to assert our rights and liberties.
To ~ one's self, to claim or vindicate one's rights or position; to demand recognition.
Syn. - To affirm; aver; asseverate; maintain; protest; pronounce; declare; vindicate. Ð To Assert, Affirm, Maintain, Vindicate. To assert is to fasten to one's self, and hence to claim. It is, therefore, adversative in its nature. We assert our rights and privileges, or the cause of tree institutions, as against opposition or denial. To affirm is to declare as true. We assert boldly; we affirm positively. To maintain is to uphold, and insist upon with earnestness, whatever we have once asserted; as, to maintain one's cause, to maintain an argument, to maintain the ground we have taken. To vindicate is to use language and measures of the strongest kind, in defense of ourselves and those for whom we act. We maintain our assertions by adducing proofs, facts, or arguments; we are ready to vindicate our rights or interests by the utmost exertion of our powers.
AsÏsert¶er (?), n. One who asserts; one who avers pr maintains; an assertor.
The inflexible asserter of the rights of the church.
Milman.
AsÏser¶tion (?), n. [L. assertio, fr. asserere.] 1. The act of asserting, or that which is asserted; positive declaration or averment; affirmation; statement asserted; position advanced.
There is a difference between assertion and demonstration.
Macaulay.
2. Maintenance; vindication; as, the assertion of one's rights or prerogatives.
AsÏsert¶ive (?), a. Positive; affirming confidently; affirmative; peremptory.
In a confident and assertive form.
Glanvill.
Ð AsÏsert¶iveÏly, adv. Ð AsÏsert¶iveÏness, n.
AsÏsert¶or (?), n. [L., fr. asserere.] One who asserts or avers; one who maintains or vindicates a claim or a right; an affirmer, supporter, or vindicator; a defender; an asserter.
The assertors of liberty said not a word.
Macaulay.
Faithful assertor of thy country's cause.
Prior.
As·serÏto¶riÏal (?), a. Asserting that a thing is; Ð opposed to problematical and apodeictical.
AsÏsert¶oÏry (?), a. [L. assertorius, fr. asserere.] Affirming; maintaining.
Arguments… assertory, not probatory.
Jer. Taylor.
An assertory, not a promissory, declaration.
Bentham.
A proposition is assertory, when it enounces what is known as actual.
Sir W. Hamilton.
AsÏsess¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assessed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Assessing.] [OF. assesser to regulate, settle, LL. assessare to value for taxation, fr. L. assidere, supine as if assessum, to sit by, esp. of judges in a court, in LL. to assess, tax. Cf. Assize, v., Cess.] 1. To value; to make a valuation or official estimate of for the purpose of taxation.
2. To apportion a sum to be paid by (a person, a community, or an estate), in the nature of a tax, fine, etc.; to impose a tax upon (a person, an estate, or an income) according to a rate or apportionment.
3. To determine and impose a tax or fine upon (a person, community, estate, or income); to tax; as, the club assessed each member twentyÐfive cents.
4. To fix or determine the rate or amount of.
This sum is assessed and raised upon individuals by commissioners in the act.
Blackstone.
AsÏsess¶aÏble (?), a. Liable to be assessed or taxed; as, assessable property.
As·sessÏee¶ (?), n. One who is assessed.
AsÏses¶sion (?), n. [L. assessio, fr. assid?re to sit by or near; ad + sed?re to sit. See Sit.] A sitting beside or near.
AsÏsess¶ment (?), n. [LL. assessamentum.] 1. The act of assessing; the act of determining an amount to be paid; as, an assessment of damages, or of taxes; an assessment of the members of a club.
2. A valuation of property or profits of business, for the purpose of taxation; such valuation and an adjudging of the proper sum to be levied on the property; as, an assessment of property or an assessment on property.
µ An assessment is a valuation made by authorized persons according to their discretion, as opposed to a sum certain or determined by law. It is a valuation of the property of those who are to pay the tax, for the purpose of fixing the proportion which each man shall pay.
Blackstone. Burrill.
3. The specific sum levied or assessed.
4. An apportionment of a subscription for stock into successive installments; also, one of these installments (in England termed a ½call¸). [U. S.]
AsÏsess¶or , n. [L., one who sits beside, the assistant of a judge, fr. assid?re. See Assession. LL., one who arranges of determines the taxes, fr. assid?re. See Assess, v., and cf. Cessor.] 1. One appointed or elected to assist a judge or magistrate with his special knowledge of the subject to be decided; as legal assessors, nautical assessors.
Mozley & W.
2. One who sits by another, as next in dignity, or as an assistant and adviser; an associate in office.
Whence to his Son,
The assessor of his throne, he thus began.
Milton.
With his ignorance, his inclinations, and his fancy, as his assessors in judgment.
I. Taylor.
3. One appointed to assess persons or property for the purpose of taxation.
Bouvier.
As·sesÏso¶riÏal (?), a. [Cf. F. assessorial, fr. L. assessor.] Of or pertaining to an assessor, or to a court of assessors.
Coxe.
AsÏsess¶orÏship (?), n. The office or function of an assessor.
As¶set (?), n. Any article or separable part of one's assets.
As¶sets (?), n. pl. [OF. asez enough, F. assez, fr. L. ad + satis, akin to Gr. ? enough, Goth. saps full. Cf. Assai, Satisfy.] 1. (Law) (a) Property of a deceased person, subject by law to the payment of his debts and legacies; Ð called assets because sufficient to render the executor or administrator liable to the creditors and legatees, so far as such goods or estate may extend. Story. Blackstone. (b) Effects of an insolvent debtor or bankrupt, applicable to the payment of debts.
2. The entire property of all sorts, belonging to a person, a corporation, or an estate; as, the assets of a merchant or a trading association; Ð opposed to liabilities.
µ In balancing accounts the assets are put on the Cr. side and the debts on the Dr. side.
AsÏsev¶er (?), v. t. [Cf. OF. asseverer, fr. L. asseverare.] See Asseverate. [Archaic]
AsÏsev¶erÏate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Asseverated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Asseverating (?).] [L. asseveratus, p. p. of asseverare to assert seriously or earnestly; ad + severus. See Severe.] To affirm or aver positively, or with solemnity.
Syn. - To affirm; aver; protest; declare. See Affirm.
AsÏsev·erÏa¶tion (?), n. [L. asseveratio.] The act of asseverating, or that which is asseverated; positive affirmation or assertion; solemn declaration.
Another abuse of the tongue I might add, Ð vehement asseverations upon slight and trivial occasions.
Ray.
AsÏsev¶erÏaÏtive , a. Characterized by asseveration; asserting positively.
AsÏsev¶erÏaÏtoÏry , a. Asseverative.
AsÏsib¶iÏlate , v. t. [L. assibilatus, p. p. of assibilare to hiss out; ad + sibilare to hiss.] To make sibilant; to change to a sibilant.
J. Peile.
AsÏsib·iÏla¶tion , n. Change of a nonÐsibilant letter to a sibilant, as of Ïtion to Ïshun, duke to ditch.
As·siÏde¶an , n. [Heb. kh¾sad to be pious.] One of a body of devoted Jews who opposed the Hellenistic Jews, and supported the Asmoneans.
As¶siÏdent (?), a. [L. assidens, p. pr. of assid?re to sit by: cf. F. assident. See Assession.] (Med.) Usually attending a disease, but not always; as, assident signs, or symptoms.
AsÏsid¶uÏate (?), a. [L. assiduatus, p. p. of assiduare to use assiduously.] Unremitting; assiduous. [Obs.] ½Assiduate labor.¸
Fabyan.
As·siÏdu¶iÏty (?), n.; pl. Assiduities (?). [L. assiduitas: cf. F. assiduite. See Assiduous.] 1. Constant or close application or attention, particularly to some business or enterprise; diligence.
I have, with much pains and assiduity, qualified myself for a nomenclator.
Addison.
2. Studied and persevering attention to a person; Ð usually in the plural.
AsÏsid¶uÏous (?), a. [L. assiduus, fr. assid?re to sit near or close; ad + sed?re to sit. See Sit.] 1. Constant in application or attention; devoted; attentive; unremitting.
She grows more assiduous in her attendance.
Addison.
2. Performed with constant diligence or attention; unremitting; persistent; as, assiduous labor.
To weary him with my assiduous cries.
Milton.
Syn. - Diligent; attentive; sedulous; unwearied; unintermitted; persevering; laborious; indefatigable.
Ð AsÏsid¶uÏousÏly, adv. Ð AsÏsid¶uÏousÏness, n.
AsÏsiege¶ (?), v. t. [OE. asegen, OF. asegier, F. assi‚ger, fr. LL. assediare, assidiare, to besiege. See Siege.] [Obs.] ½Assieged castles.¸
Spenser.
AsÏsiege¶, n. A siege. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
As·siÏen¶tist , n. [Cf. F. assientiste, Sp. asentista.] A shareholder of the Assiento company; one of the parties to the Assiento contract.
Bancroft.
Ø As·siÏen¶to (?), n. [Sp. asiento seat, contract or agreement, fr. asentar to place on a chair, to adjust, to make an agreement; a (L. ad) + sentar, a participial verb; as if there were a L. sedentare to cause to sit, fr. sedens, sedentis, p. pr. of sed?re to sit.] A contract or convention between Spain and other powers for furnishing negro slaves for the Spanish dominions in America, esp. the contract made with Great Britain in 1713.
AsÏsign¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assigned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Assigning.] [OE. assignen, asignen, F. assigner, fr. L. assignare; ad + signare to mark, mark out, designate, signum mark, sign. See Sign.] 1. To appoint; to allot; to apportion; to make over.
In the order I assign to them.
Loudon.
The man who could feel thus was worthy of a better station than that in which his lot had been assigned.
Southey.
He assigned to his men their several posts.
Prescott.
2. To fix, specify, select, or designate; to point out authoritatively or exactly; as, to assign a limit; to assign counsel for a prisoner; to assign a day for trial.
All as the dwarf the way to her assigned.
Spenser.
It is not easy to assign a period more eventful.
De Quincey.
3. (Law) To transfer, or make over to another, esp. to transfer to, and vest in, certain persons, called assignees, for the benefit of creditors.
To ~ dower, to set out by metes and bounds the widow's share or portion in an estate.
Kent.
AsÏsign¶, n. [From Assign, v.] A thing pertaining or belonging to something else; an appurtenance. [Obs.]
Six French rapiers and poniards, with their assigns, as girdles, hangers, and so.
Shak.
AsÏsign¶, n. [See Assignee.] (Law) A person to whom property or an interest is transferred; as, a deed to a man and his heirs and assigns.
AsÏsign·aÏbil¶iÏty (?), n. The quality of being assignable.
AsÏsign¶aÏble (?), a. Capable of being assigned, allotted, specified, or designated; as, an assignable note or bill; an assignable reason; an assignable quantity.
Ø As·si·gnat¶ (?; 277), n. [F. assignat, fr. L. assignatus, p. p. of assignare.] One of the notes, bills, or bonds, issued as currency by the revolutionary government of France (1790Ð1796), and based on the security of the lands of the church and of nobles which had been appropriated by the state.
As·sigÏna¶tion (?), n. [L. assignatio, fr. assignare: cf. F. assignation.] 1. The act of assigning or allotting; apportionment.
This order being taken in the senate, as touching the appointment and assignation of those provinces.
Holland.
2. An appointment of time and place for meeting or interview; Ð used chiefly of love interviews, and now commonly in a bad sense.
While nymphs take treats, or assignations give.
Pope.
3. A making over by transfer of title; assignment.
House of ~, a house in which appointments for sexual intercourse are fulfilled.
As·signÏee¶ , n. [F. assign‚, p. p. of assigner. See Assign, v., and cf. Assign an ~.] (Law) (a) A person to whom an assignment is made; a person appointed or deputed by another to do some act, perform some business, or enjoy some right, privilege, or property; as, an assignee of a bankrupt. See Assignment (c). An ~ may be by special appointment or deed, or be created by jaw; as an executor. Cowell. Blount. (b) pl. In England, the persons appointed, under a commission of bankruptcy, to manage the estate of a bankrupt for the benefit of his creditors.

<— p. 92 —>

AsÏsign¶er (?), n. One who assigns, appoints, allots, or apportions.
AsÏsign¶ment (?), n. [LL. assignamentum: cf. OF. assenement.] 1. An allotting or an appointment to a particular person or use; or for a particular time, as of a cause or causes in court.
2. (Law) (a) A transfer of title or interest by writing, as of lease, bond, note, or bill of exchange; a transfer of the whole of some particular estate or interest in lands. (b) The writing by which an interest is transferred. (c) The transfer of the property of a bankrupt to certain persons called assignees, in whom it is vested for the benefit of creditors.
÷ of dower, the setting out by metes and bounds of the widow's thirds or portion in the deceased husband's estate, and allotting it to her.
µ Assignment is also used in law as convertible with specification; assignment of error in proceedings for review being specification of error; and assignment of perjury or fraud in indictment being specifications of perjury or fraud.
As·signÏor¶ (?), n. [L. assignator. Cf. Assigner.] (Law) An assigner; a person who assigns or transfers an interest; as, the assignor of a debt or other chose in action.
AsÏsim·iÏlaÏbil¶iÏty (?), n. The quality of being assimilable. [R.]
Coleridge.
AsÏsim¶iÏlaÏble (?), a. That may be assimilated; that may be likened, or appropriated and incorporated.
AsÏsim¶iÏlate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assimilated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Assimilating (?).] [L. assimilatus, p. p. of assimilare; ad + similare to make like, similis like. See Similar, Assemble, Assimilate.] 1. To bring to a likeness or to conformity; to cause a resemblance between.
Sir M. Hale.
To assimilate our law to the law of Scotland.
John Bright.
Fast falls a fleecy; the downy flakes
Assimilate all objects.
Cowper.
2. To liken; to compa?e. [R.]
3. To appropriate and transform or incorporate into the substance of the assimilating body; to absorb or appropriate, as nourishment; as, food is assimilated and converted into organic tissue.
Hence also animals and vegetables may assimilate their nourishment.
Sir I. Newton.
His mind had no power to assimilate the lessons.
Merivale.
AsÏsim¶iÏlate, v. i. 1. To become similar or like something else. [R.]
2. To change and appropriate nourishment so as to make it a part of the substance of the assimilating body.
Aliment easily assimilated or turned into blood.
Arbuthnot.
3. To be converted into the substance of the assimilating body; to become incorporated; as, some kinds of food assimilate more readily than others.
I am a foreign material, and cannot assimilate with the church of England.
J. H. Newman.
AsÏsim·iÏla¶tion (?), n. [L. assimilatio: cf. F. assimilation.] 1. The act or process of assimilating or bringing to a resemblance, likeness, or identity; also, the state of being so assimilated; as, the assimilation of one sound to another.
To aspire to an assimilation with God.
Dr. H. More.
The assimilation of gases and vapors.
Sir J. Herschel.
2. (Physiol.) The conversion of nutriment into the fluid or solid substance of the body, by the processes of digestion and absorption, whether in plants or animals.
Not conversing the body, not repairing it by assimilation, but preserving it by ventilation.
Sir T. Browne.
µ The term assimilation has been limited by some to the final process by which the nutritive matter of the blood is converted into the substance of the tissues and organs.
AsÏsim¶iÏlaÏtive (?), a. [Cf. LL. assimilativus, F. assimilatif.] Tending to, or characterized by, assimilation; that assimilates or causes assimilation; as, an assimilative process or substance.
AsÏsim¶iÏlaÏtoÏry (?), a. Tending to assimilate, or produce assimilation; as, assimilatory organs.
AsÏsim¶uÏlate (?), v. t. [L. assimulatus, p. p. of assimulare, equiv. to assimilare. See Assimilate, v. t.] 1. To feign; to counterfeit; to simulate; to resemble. [Obs.]
Blount.
2. To assimilate. [Obs.]
Sir M. Hale.
AsÏsim·uÏla¶tion (?), n. [L. assimulatio, equiv. to assimilatio.] Assimilation. [Obs.]
Bacon.
As·siÏne¶go (?), n. See Asinego.
Ass¶ish (?), a. Resembling an ass; asinine; stupid or obstinate.
Such… appear to be of the assich kind…
Udall.
AsÏsist¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Assisting.] [L. assistere; ad + sistere to cause to stand, to stand, from stare to stand: cf. F. assister. See Stand.] To give support to in some undertaking or effort, or in time of distress; to help; to aid; to succor.
Assist me, knight. I am undone!
Shak.
Syn. - To help; aid; second; back; support; relieve; succor; befriend; sustain; favor. See Help.
AsÏsist¶, v. i. 1. To lend aid; to help.
With God not parted from him, as was feared,
But favoring and assisting to the end.
Milton.
2. To be present as a spectator; as, to assist at a public meeting. [A Gallicism]
Gibbon. Prescott.
AsÏsist¶ance (?), n. [Cf. F. assistance.] 1. The act of assisting; help; aid; furtherance; succor; support.
Without the assistance of a mortal hand.
Shak.
2. An assistant or helper; a body of helpers. [Obs.]
Wat Tyler [was] killed by valiant Walworth, the lord mayor of London, and his assistance,… John Cavendish.
Fuller.
3. Persons present. [ Obs. or a Gallicism]
AsÏsist¶ant (?), a. [Cf. F. assistant, p. pr. of assister.] 1. Helping; lending aid or support; auxiliary.
Genius and learning… are mutually and greatly assistant to each other.
Beattie.
2. (Mil.) Of the second grade in the staff of the army; as, an assistant surgeon. [U.S.]
µ In the English army it designates the third grade in any particular branch of the staff.
Farrow.
AsÏsist¶ant (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, assists; a helper; an auxiliary; a means of help.
Four assistants who his labor share.
Pope.
Rhymes merely as assistants to memory.
Mrs. Chapone.
2. An attendant; one who is present.
Dryden.
AsÏsist¶antÏly, adv. In a manner to give aid. [R.]
AsÏsist¶er , n. An assistant; a helper.
AsÏsist¶ful (?), a. Helpful.
AsÏsist¶ive (?), a. Lending aid, helping.
AsÏsist¶less, a. Without aid or help. [R.]
Pope.
AsÏsist¶or (?), n. (Law) A assister.
AsÏsith¶ment (?), n. See Assythment. [Obs.]
AsÏsize¶ (?), n. [OE. assise, asise, OF. assise, F. assises, assembly of judges, the decree pronounced by them, tax, impost, fr. assis, assise, p. p. of asseoir, fr. L. assid?re to sit by; ad + sed?re to sit. See Sit, Size, and cf. Excise, Assess.] 1. An assembly of knights and other substantial men, with a bailiff or justice, in a certain place and at a certain time, for public business. [Obs.]
2. (Law) (a) A special kind of jury or inquest. (b) A kind of writ or real action. (c) A verdict or finding of a jury upon such writ. (d) A statute or ordinance in general. Specifically: (1) A statute regulating the weight, measure, and proportions of ingredients and the price of articles sold in the market; as, the assize of bread and other provisions; (2) A statute fixing the standard of weights and measures. (e) Anything fixed or reduced to a certainty in point of time, number, quantity, quality, weight, measure, etc.; as, rent of assize. Glanvill. Spelman. Cowell. Blackstone. Tomlins. Burrill. [This term is not now used in England in the sense of a writ or real action, and seldom of a jury of any kind, but in Scotch practice it is still technically applied to the jury in criminal cases. Stephen. Burrill. Erskine.] (f) A court, the sitting or session of a court, for the trial of processes, whether civil or criminal, by a judge and jury. Blackstone. Wharton. Encyc. Brit. (g) The periodical sessions of the judges of the superior courts in every county of England for the purpose of administering justice in the trial and determination of civil and criminal cases; Ð usually in the plural. Brande. Wharton. Craig. Burrill. (h) The time or place of holding the court of ~; Ð generally in the plural, assizes.
3. Measure; dimension; size. [In this sense now corrupted into size.]
An hundred cubits high by just assize.
Spenser.
[Formerly written, as in French, assise.]
AsÏsize¶, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Assizing.] [From Assize, n.: cf. LL. assisare to decree in ~. Cf. Asses, v.] 1. To assess; to value; to rate. [Obs.]
Gower.
2. To fix the weight, measure, or price of, by an ordinance or regulation of authority. [Obs.]
AsÏsiz¶er (?), n. An officer who has the care or inspection of weights and measures, etc.
AsÏsiz¶or (?), n. (Scots Law) A juror.
AsÏso¶ber (?), v. t. [Pref. adÏ + sober. Cf. Ensober.] To make or keep sober. [Obs.]
Gower.
AsÏso·ciaÏbil¶iÏty (?), n. The quality of being associable, or capable of association; associableness. ½The associability of feelings.¸
H. Spencer.
AsÏso¶ciaÏble (?), a. [See Associate.] 1.ÿCapable of being associated or joined.
We know feelings to be associable only by the proved ability of one to revive another.
H. Spencer.
2. Sociable; companionable. [Obs.]
3. (Med.) Liable to be affected by sympathy with other parts; Ð said of organs, nerves, muscles, etc.
The stomach, the most associable of all the organs of the animal body.
Med. Rep.
AsÏso¶ciaÏbleÏness, n. Associability.
AsÏso¶ciÏate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Associated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Associating (?).] [L. associatus, p. p. of associare; ad + sociare to join or unite, socius companion. See Social.] 1. To join with one, as a friend, companion, partner, or confederate; as, to associate others with ?s in business, or in an enterprise.
2. To join or connect; to combine in acting; as, particles of gold associated with other substances.
3. To connect or place together in thought.
He succeeded in associating his name inseparably with some names which will last an long as our language.
Macaulay.
4. To accompany; to keep company with. [Obs.]
Friends should associate friends in grief and woe.
Shak.
AsÏso¶ciÏate, v. i. 1. To unite in company; to keep company, implying intimacy; as, congenial minds are disposed to associate.
2. To unite in action, or to be affected by the action of a different part of the body.
E. Darwin.
AsÏso¶ciÏate (?), a. [L. associatus, p. p.] 1. Closely connected or joined with some other, as in interest, purpose, employment, or office; sharing responsibility or authority; as, an associate judge.
While I descend… to my associate powers.
Milton.
2. Admitted to some, but not to all, rights and privileges; as, an associate member.
3. (Physiol.) Connected by habit or sympathy; as, associate motions, such as occur sympathetically, in consequence of preceding motions.
E. Darwin.
AsÏso¶ciÏate, n. 1. A companion; one frequently in company with another, implying intimacy or equality; a mate; a fellow.
2. A partner in interest, as in business; or a confederate in a league.
3. One connected with an association or institution without the full rights or privileges of a regular member; as, an associate of the Royal Academy.
4. Anything closely or usually connected with another; an concomitant.
The one [idea] no sooner comes into the understanding, than its associate appears with it.
Locke.
Syn. - Companion; mate; fellow; friend; ally; partner; coadjutor; comrade; accomplice.
AsÏso¶ciÏa·ted (?), a. Joined as a companion; brought into association; accompanying; combined.
÷ movements (Physiol.), consensual movements which accompany voluntary efforts without our consciousness.
Dunglison.
AsÏso¶ciÏateÏship (?), n. The state of an associate, as in Academy or an office.
AsÏso·ciÏa¶tion (?; 277), n. [Cf. F. association, LL. associatio, fr. L. associare.] 1. The act of associating, or state of being associated; union; connection, whether of persons of things. ½Some… bond of association.¸
Hooker.
SelfÐdenial is a kind of holy association with God.
Boyle.
2. Mental connection, or that which is mentally linked or associated with a thing.
Words… must owe their powers association.
Johnson.
Why should… the holiest words, with all their venerable associations, be profaned?
Coleridge.
3. Union of persons in a company or society for some particular purpose; as, the American Association for the Advancement of Science; a benevolent association. Specifically, as among the Congregationalists, a society, consisting of a number of ministers, generally the pastors of neighboring churches, united for promoting the interests of religion and the harmony of the churches.
÷ of ideas (Physiol.), the combination or connection of states of mind or their objects with one another, as the result of which one is said to be revived or represented by means of the other. The relations according to which they are thus connected or revived are called the law of association. Prominent among them are reckoned the relations of time and place, and of cause and effect.
Porter.
AsÏso·ciÏa¶tionÏal (?), a. 1. Of or pertaining to association, or to an association.
2. Pertaining to the theory held by the associationists.
AsÏso·ciÏa¶tionÏism (?), n. (Philos.) The doctrine or theory held by associationists.
AsÏso·ciÏa¶tionÏist, n. (Philos.) One who explains the higher functions and relations of the soul by the association of ideas; e. g., Hartley, J. C. Mill.
AsÏso¶ciÏaÏtive (?), a.ÿHaving the quality of associating; tending or leading to association; as, the associative faculty.
Hugh Miller.
AsÏso¶ciÏa·tor (?), n. An associate; a confederate or partner in any scheme.
How Pennsylvania's air agrees with Quakers,
And Carolina's with associators.
Dryden.
AsÏsoil¶ (?), v. t. [OF. assoiler, absoiler, assoldre, F. absoudre, L. absolvere. See Absolve.] 1. To set free; to release. [Archaic]
Till from her hands the spright assoiled is.
Spenser.
2. To solve; to clear up. [Obs.]
Any child might soon be able to assoil this riddle.
Bp. Jewel.
3. To set free from guilt; to absolve. [Archaic]
Acquitted and assoiled from the guilt.
Dr. H. More.
Many persons think themselves fairly assoiled, because they are… not of scandalous lives.
Jer. Taylor.
4. To expiate; to atone for. [Archaic]
Spenser.
Let each act assoil a fault.
E. Arnold.
5. To remove; to put off. [Obs.]
She soundly slept, and careful thoughts did quite assoil.
Spenser.
AsÏsoil¶, v. t. [Pref. adÏ + soil.] To soil; to stain. [Obs. or Poet.]
Beau. & Fl.
Ne'er assoil my cobwebbed shield.
Wordsworth.
AsÏsoil¶ment (?), n. Act of assoiling, or state of being assoiled; absolution; acquittal.
AsÏsoil¶ment, n. A soiling; defilement.
AsÏsoil¶zie (?), AsÏsoil¶yie, v. t. [Old form assoi?e. See Assoil.] (scots Law) To absolve; to acquit by sentence of court.
God assoilzie him for the sin of bloodshed.
Sir W. Scott.
As¶soÏnance (?), n. [Cf. F. assonance. See Assonant.] 1. Resemblance of sound. ½The disagreeable assonance of ?sheath' and ?sheated.'¸
Steevens.
2. (Pros.) A peculiar species of rhyme, in which the last accented vowel and those which follow it in one word correspond in sound with the vowels of another word, while the consonants of the two words are unlike in sound; as, calamo and platano, baby and chary.
The assonance is peculiar to the Spaniard.
Hallam.
3. Incomplete correspondence.
Assonance between facts seemingly remote.
Lowell.
As¶soÏnant (?), a. [L. assonans, p. pr. of assonare to sound to, to correspond to in sound; ad + sonare to sound, sonus sound: cf. F. assonant. See Sound.] 1.ÿHaving a resemblance of sounds.
2. (Pros.) Pertaining to the peculiar species of rhyme called assonance; not consonant.
As·soÏnan¶tal (?), a. Assonant.
As¶soÏnate (?), v. i. [L. assonare, assonatum, to respond to.] To correspond in sound.
AsÏsort¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Assorting.] [F. assortir; ? (L. ad) + sortir to cast or draw lots, to obtain by lot, L. sortiri, fr. sors, sortis, lot. See Sort.] 1. To separate and distribute into classes, as things of a like kind, nature, or quality, or which are suited to a like purpose; to classify; as, to assort goods. [Rarely applied to persons.]
They appear… no ways assorted to those with whom they must associate.
Burke.
2. To furnish with, or make up of, various sorts or a variety of goods; as, to assort a cargo.
AsÏsort¶, v. i. To agree; to be in accordance; to be adapted; to suit; to fall into a class or place.
Mitford.

<— p. 93 —>

AsÏsort¶ed (?), a. Selected; culled.
AsÏsort¶ment (?), n. [Cf. F. assortiment.] 1. Act of assorting, or distributing into sorts, kinds, or classes.
2. A collection or quantity of things distributed into kinds or sorts; a number of things assorted.
3. A collection containing a variety of sorts or kinds adapted to various wants, demands, or purposes; as, an assortment of goods.
AsÏsot¶ (?), v. t. [OF. asoter, F. assoter; ? (L. ad) + sot stupid. See Sot.] To besot; to befool; to beguile; to infatuate. [Obs.]
Some ecstasy assotted had his sense.
Spenser.
AsÏsot¶, a. Dazed; foolish; infatuated. [Obs.]
Willie, I ween thou be assot.
Spenser.
AsÏsuage¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assuaged ; p. pr. & vb. n. Assuaging (?).] [OE. asuagen, aswagen, OF. asoagier, asuagier, fr. assouagier, fr. L. ad + suavis sweet. See Sweet.] To soften, in a figurative sense; to allay, mitigate, ease, or lessen, as heat, pain, or grief; to appease or pacify, as passion or tumult; to satisfy, as appetite or desire.
Refreshing winds the summer's heat assuage.
Addison.
To assuage the sorrows of a desolate old man
Burke.
The fount at which the panting mind assuages
Her thirst of knowledge.
Byron.
Syn. - To alleviate; mitigate; appease; soothe; calm; tranquilize; relieve. See Alleviate.
AsÏsuage¶, v. i. To abate or subside. [Archaic] ½The waters assuaged.¸
Gen. vii. 1.
The plague being come to a crisis, its fury began to assuage.
De Foe.
AsÏsuage¶ment (?), n. [OF. assouagement, asuagement.] Mitigation; abatement.
AsÏsua¶ger (?), n. One who, or that which, assuages.
AsÏsua¶sive (?), a. [From assuage, as if this were fr. a supposed L. assuadere to persuade to; or from E. pref. ad + Ïsuasive as in persuasive.] Mitigating; tranquilizing; soothing. [R.]
Music her soft assuasive voice applies.
Pope.
AsÏsub¶juÏgate (?), v. t. [Pref. adÏ + subjugate.] To bring into subjection. [Obs.]
Shak.
As·sueÏfac¶tion (?), n. [L. assuefacere to accustom to; assuetus (p. p. of assuescere to accustom to) + facere to make; cf. OF. assuefaction.] The act of accustoming, or the state of being accustomed; habituation. [Obs.]
Custom and studies efform the soul like wax, and by assuefaction introduce a nature.
Jer. Taylor.
As¶sueÏtude (?), n. [L. assuetudo, fr. assuetus accustomed.] Accustomedness; habit; habitual use.
Assuetude of things hurtful doth make them lose their force to hurt.
Bacon.
AsÏsum¶aÏble (?), a. That may be assumed.
AsÏsum¶aÏbly, adv. By way of assumption.
AsÏsume¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assumed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Assuming.] [L. assumere; ad + sumere to take; sub + emere to take, buy: cf. F. assumer. See Redeem.] 1. To take to or upon one's self; to take formally and demonstratively; sometimes, to appropriate or take unjustly.
Trembling they stand while Jove assumes the throne.
Pope.
The god assumed his native form again.
Pope.
2. To take for granted, or without proof; to suppose as a fact; to suppose or take arbitrarily or tentatively.
The consequences of assumed principles.
Whewell.
3. To pretend to possess; to take in appearance.
Ambition assuming the mask of religion.
Porteus.
Assume a virtue, if you have it not.
Shak.
4. To receive or adopt.
The sixth was a young knight of lesser renown and lower rank, assumed into that honorable company.
Sir W. Scott.
Syn. - To arrogate; usurp; appropriate.
AsÏsume¶, v. i. 1. To be arrogant or pretentious; to claim more than is due.
Bp. Burnet.
2. (Law) To undertake, as by a promise.
Burrill.
AsÏsumed¶ (?), a. 1. Supposed.
2. Pretended; hypocritical; makeÐbelieve; as, an assumed character.
AsÏsum¶edÏly (?), adv. By assumption.
AsÏsum¶ent (?), n. [L. assumentum, fr. ad + suere to sew.] A patch; an addition; a piece put on. [Obs.]
John Lewis (1731).
AsÏsum¶er (?), n. One who assumes, arrogates, pretends, or supposes.
W. D. Whitney.
AsÏsum¶ing, a. Pretentious; taking much upon one's self; presumptuous.
Burke.
Ø AsÏsump¶sit (?; 215), n. [L., he undertook, pret. of L. assumere. See Assume.] (Law) (a) A promise or undertaking, founded on a consideration. This promise may be oral or in writing not under seal. It may be express or implied. (b) An action to recover damages for a breach or nonperformance of a contract or promise, express or implied, oral or in writing not under seal. Common or indebitatus assumpsit is brought for the most part on an implied promise. Special assumpsit is founded on an express promise or undertaking.
Wharton.
AsÏsumpt¶ (?; 215), v. t. [L. assumptus, p. p. of assumere. See Assume.] To take up; to elevate; to assume. [Obs.]
Sheldon.
AsÏsumpt¶, n. [L. assumptum, p. p. neut. of assumere.] That which is assumed; an assumption. [Obs.]
The sun of all your assumpts is this.
Chillingworth.
AsÏsump¶tion (?; 215), n. [OE. assumpcioun a taking up into heaven, L. assumptio a taking, fr. assumere: cf. F. assomption. See Assume.] 1. The act of assuming, or taking to or upon one's self; the act of taking up or adopting.
The assumption of authority.
Whewell.
2. The act of taking for granted, or supposing a thing without proof; supposition; unwarrantable claim.
This gives no sanction to the unwarrantable assumption that the soul sleeps from the period of death to the resurrection of the body.
Thodey.
That calm assumption of the virtues.
W. Black.
3. The thing supposed; a postulate, or proposition assumed; a supposition.
Hold! says the Stoic; your assumption's wrong.
Dryden.
4. (Logic) The minor or second proposition in a categorical syllogism.
5. The taking of a person up into heaven. Hence: (Rom. Cath. & Greek Churches) A festival in honor of the ascent of the Virgin Mary into heaven.
AsÏsump¶tive (?), a. [L. assumptivus, fr. assumptus, fr. assumere.] Assumed, or capable of being assumed; characterized by assumption; making unwarranted claims. Ð AsÏsump¶tiveÏly, adv.
÷ arms (Her.), originally, arms which a person had a right to assume, in consequence of an exploit; now, those assumed without sanction of the Heralds' College.
Percy Smith.
AsÏsur¶ance (?), n. [OE. assuraunce, F. assurance, fr. assurer. See Assure.] 1. The act of assuring; a declaration tending to inspire full confidence; that which is designed to give confidence.
Whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Acts xvii. 31.
Assurances of support came pouring in daily.
Macaulay.
2. The state of being assured; firm persuasion; full confidence or trust; freedom from doubt; certainty.
Let us draw with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience.
Heb. x. 22.
3. Firmness of mind; undoubting, steadiness; intrepidity; courage; confidence; selfÐreliance.
Brave men meet danger with assurance.
Knolles.
Conversation with the world will give them knowledge and assurance.
Locke.
4. Excess of boldness; impudence; audacity; as, his assurance is intolerable.
5. Betrothal; affiance. [Obs.]
Sir P. Sidney.
6. Insurance; a contract for the payment of a sum on occasion of a certain event, as loss or death.
µ Recently, assurance has been used, in England, in relation to life contingencies, and insurance in relation to other contingencies. It is called temporary assurance, in the time within which the contingent event must happen is limited. See Insurance.
7. (Law) Any written or other legal evidence of the conveyance of property; a conveyance; a deed.
µ In England, the legal evidences of the conveyance of property are called the common assurances of the kingdom.
Blackstone.
AsÏsure (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assured (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Assuring.] [OF. aserer, F. assurer, LL. assecurare; L. ad + securus secure, sure, certain. See Secure, Sure, and cf. Insure.] 1. To make sure or certain; to render confident by a promise, declaration, or other evidence.
His promise that thy seed shall bruise our foe…
Assures me that the bitterness of death
Is past, and we shall live.
Milton.
2. To declare to, solemnly; to assert to (any one) with the design of inspiring belief or confidence.
I dare assure thee that no enemy
Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus.
Shak.
3. To confirm; to make certain or secure.
And it shall be assured to him.
Lev. xxvii. 19.
And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
1 John iii. 19.
4. To affiance; to betroth. [Obs.]
Shak.
5. (Law) To insure; to covenant to indemnify for loss, or to pay a specified sum at death. See Insure.
Syn. - To declare; aver; avouch; vouch; assert; asseverate; protest; persuade; convince.
AsÏsured¶ (?), a. Made sure; safe; insured; certain; indubitable; not doubting; bold to excess.
AsÏsured¶, n. One whose life or property is insured.
AsÏsur¶edÏly (?), adv. Certainly; indubitably. ½The siege assuredly I'll raise.¸
Shak.
AsÏsur¶edÏness, n. The state of being assured; certainty; full confidence.
AsÏsur¶er (?), n. 1. One who assures. Specifically: One who insures against loss; an insurer or underwriter.
2. One who takes out a life assurance policy.
AsÏsur¶genÏcy (?), n. Act of rising.
The… assurgency of the spirit through the body.
Coleridge.
AsÏsur¶gent (?), a. [L. assurgens, p. pr. of assurgere; ad + surgere to rise.] Ascending; (Bot.) rising obliquely; curving upward.
Gray.
AsÏsur¶ing (?), a. That assures; tending to assure; giving confidence. Ð AsÏsur¶ingÏly, adv.
AsÏswage¶ , v. See Assuage.
AsÏsyr¶iÏan (?), a. [L. Assyrius.] Of or pertaining to Assyria, or to its inhabitants. Ð n. A native or an inhabitant of Assyria; the language of Assyria.
AsÏsyr·iÏoÏlog¶icÏal (?), a. Of or pertaining to Assyriology; as, Assyriological studies.
AsÏsyr·iÏol¶oÏgist (?), n. One versed in Assyriology; a student of Assyrian arch‘ology.
AsÏsyr·iÏol¶oÏgy (?), n. [Assyria + Ïlogy.] The science or study of the antiquities, language, etc., of ancient Assyria.
AsÏsyth¶ment (?), n. [From OF. aset, asez, orig. meaning enough. See Assets.] Indemnification for injury; satisfaction. [Chiefly in Scots law]
Ø As¶taÏcus (?), n. [L. astacus a crab, Gr. ?.] (Zo”l.) A genus of crustaceans, containing the crawfish of freshÐwater lobster of Europe, and allied species of western North America. See Crawfish.
AÏstar¶board (?), adv. (Naut.) Over to the starboard side; Ð said of the tiller.
AÏstart¶ (?), v. t. & i. Same as Astert. [Obs.]
Ø AsÏtar¶te (?), n. [Gr. ? a Ph?nician goddess.] (Zo”l.) A genus of bivalve mollusks, common on the coasts of America and Europe.
AÏstate¶ (?), n. Estate; state. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
AÏstat¶ic (?), a. [Pref. aÏ not + static.] (Magnetism) Having little or no tendency to take a fixed or definite position or direction: thus, a suspended magnetic needle, when rendered astatic, loses its polarity, or tendency to point in a given direction.
÷ pair (Magnetism), a pair of magnetic needles so mounted as to be nearly or quite ~, as in some galvanometers.
AÏstat¶icÏalÏly (?), adv. In an astatic manner.
AÏstat¶iÏcism (?), n. The state of being astatic.
AÏstay¶ (?), adv. (Naut.) An anchor is said to be astay, in heaving it, an acute angle is formed between the cable and the surface of the water.
As¶teÏism (?), n. [Gr. ? refined and witty talk, fr. ? of the town, polite, witty, fr. ? city: cf. F. ast‚isme.] (Rhet.) Genteel irony; a polite and ingenious manner of deriding another.
As¶tel (?), n. [OE. astelle piece of wood, OF. astele splinter, shaving, F. attelle, astelle: cf. L. astula, dim. of assis board.] (Mining) An arch, or ceiling, of boards, placed over the men's heads in a mine.
As¶ter (?), n. [L. aster aster, star, Gr. ? star. See Star.] 1. (Bot.) A genus of herbs with compound white or bluish flowers; starwort; Michaelmas daisy.
2. (Floriculture) A plant of the genus Callistephus. Many varieties (called China asters, German asters, etc.) are cultivated for their handsome compound flowers.
Ø AsÏte¶riÏas (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? starred, fr. ? star.] (Zo”l.) A genus of echinoderms.
µ Formerly the group of this name included nearly all starfishes and ophiurans. Now it is restricted to a genus including the commonest shore starfishes.
AsÏte¶riÏa·ted (?), a. [See Asterias.] Radiated, with diverging rays; as, asteriated sapphire.
As·terÏid¶iÏan (?), a. (Zo”l.) Of or pertaining to the Asterioidea. Ð n. A starfish; one of the Asterioidea.
Ø AsÏte·riÏoid¶eÏa (?), Ø As·terÏid¶eÏa (?), } n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. ? + Ïoid. See Asterias.] (Zo”l.) A class of Echinodermata including the true starfishes. The rays vary in number and always have ambulacral grooves below. The body is starshaped or pentagonal.
Ø AsÏte¶riÏon (?), n. [Gr. ? starry.] (Anat.) The point on the side of the skull where the lambdoid, parietoÐmastoid and occipitoÐmastoid sutures.
Ø As·terÏis¶cus (?), n. [L., an asterisk. See Asterisk.] (Anat.) The smaller of the two otoliths found in the inner ear of many fishes.
As¶terÏisk (?), n. [L. asteriscus, Gr. ?, dim. of ? star. See Aster.] The figure of a star, thus, ?, used in printing and writing as a reference to a passage or note in the margin, to supply the omission of letters or words, or to mark a word or phrase as having a special character.
As·terÏism (?), n. [Gr. ?, fr. ? star; cf. F. ast‚risme.] 1. (Astron.) (a) A constellation. [Obs.] (b) A small cluster of stars.
2. (Printing) (a) An asterisk, or mark of reference. [R.] (b) Three asterisks placed in this manner, ???, to direct attention to a particular passage.
3. (Crystallog.) An optical property of some crystals which exhibit a starÐshaped by reflected light, as star sapphire, or by transmitted light, as some mica.
AÏstern¶ (?), adv. [Pref. aÏ + stern.] (Naut.) 1. In or at the hinder part of a ship; toward the hinder part, or stern; backward; as, to go astern.
2. Behind a ship; in the rear. ½A gale of wind right astern.¸ De Foe. ½Left this strait astern.¸ Drake.
To bake ~, to go stern foremost. Ð To be ~ of the reckoning, to be behind the position given by the reckoning. Ð To drop ~, to fall or be left behind. Ð To go ~, to go backward, as from the action of currents or winds.
AÏster¶nal (?), a. [Pref. aÏ not + sternal.] (Anat.) Not sternal; Ð said of ribs which do not join the sternum.
As¶terÏoid (?), n. [Gr. ? starlike, starry; ? star + ? form: cf. F. ast‚ro‹de. See Aster.] A starlike body; esp. one of the numerous small planets whose orbits lie between those of Mars and Jupiter; Ð called also planetoids and minor planets.
As·terÏoid¶al (?), a. Of or pertaining to an asteroid, or to the asteroids.
Ø As·teÏrol¶eÏpis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? star + ? scale.] (Paleon.) A genus of fishes, some of which were eighteen or twenty feet long, found in a fossil state in the Old Red Sandstone.
Hugh Miller.