Ascite, "I ascite you ... to appear" (IP[342],c), summons, call. "Hun answered that the infant had no propertie in the shet, wherupon the priest ascited him in the spiritual courte."—Hall, Henry VIII., f. 50.
Aspen-leaf, "tir-tremmeleth as the aspen-leaf" (M[32],c), an early example of a common simile. The text, "tir-trimmeleth," etc., is as in original.
Assay, subs. and verb, "assay him I will" (M[11],a),—"at all assays" (M[7],c), as verb = try, tempt, essay; as subs. = at all points, in every respect. "I will assay ere long."—Jacob and Esau, Anon. Pl. 2 Ser. (E.E.D.S.), 15d; "at all assays" (Ibid. 53b).
Assemble, "I assemble the life" (N[89],b), compare, liken: cf. Shakespeare's use of assemblance.—"Care I for the limb, the thewes, the stature, bulk, and big assemblance of a man!"—Shakespeare, 2 Henry IV. (1598), iii. 2.
Assiege (N[89],b), siege: see Halliwell, s.v. Assege.
Atame, "almsdeed I can atame" (N[86],d), commence, begin: Fr. entamer. "Yes, hoste, quod he, so mote I ride or go, But I be mery, y-wis I wol be blamed; And right anon his tale he hath attamed."—Chaucer, Cant. Tales (1383), 14824.
Attempt, "Ye must attempt the world" (N[59],d), try, "sample," experience: cf. Shakespeare, Lear, ii. 2.
Attemptates, "immoderate attemptates" (R[266],a), attempts, endeavours: specifically to commit a crime. Puttenham, in 1589, said this word was a recent importation, but it had already been in use half a century at least. "To forbear that attemptate."—Sadler (A.D. 1543), in Froude, Hist. Eng., vol. iv. p. 241.
Avent, "avent thee! Nature compels" (M[25],b), i.e. relieve the bowels.