A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1665
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Assign, Assing, v. Also: assigne, assygn(e, a(s)sine; assingn, assyng(n). [ME. assigne, assygne (c 1300), asingne, assine, etc., OF. a(s)signer, L. assignāre.]
1. tr. To appoint or designate (a person) for some function, duty, or privilege.1375 Barb. xi. 312.
For to maynteym his baner, Lordis … War assignit … In-till his battale for till be 1375 Ib. xvii. 360.
Till ilk kyrneill … Archeris till schute assignit war a1400 Legends of the Saints xv. 29.
Of dysciplis thre ware tha … That Criste assignit for to be In helpe his wark to suple c1420 Wynt. iii. 159.
Off his wyffys kyn thretty … Assygnyd till hym wes to be As feris 1455 Edinb. Chart. 79.
That we sal assing the chapellane … to sing at the alter fra that tyme furth 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 132.
To assigne the sayd Wiliam to uptak sa mekyll victualis as [etc.] 1472 Bamff Chart. 30.
The clame … that I had to the said annuale be resone that I wes … assignit tyl it be the said Thomas 1659 Douglas Corr. 268.
I am willing to assinge her to as much as I have goten payet me 1665 Lamont Diary 181.
To assinge the said Cowntesse … to hir portion naturall
2. To allot, apportion, make over to one, esp. by some formal act.(a) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 377.
The which relyk assigned wes Inne the kepyng of Vlixes 14.. Acts I. 25/2.
Gif ony burges … hafe nocht assignyt his landis til ony man before his dede 1423 Edinb. Chart. 55.
The Canoune Millis, the quhilk ar assignit to hym in his pensione c1420 Wynt. v 2450.
Ilk prest … He ordanyd to kepe the parochy Till hym assygnyd distinctly 1463 Acts XII. 28/2.
To assigne to me the said half landis … on to ȝoure age of xxj ȝeris a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 757.
Ilk ȝeir thre hundreth pund assigne thé I sall 1510 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 81.
This tene pundis to be vptaken be the said Sir Johnne yeirlie, fra the personis and placis that thai assigne to him 1550 Reg. Cupar A. II. 97.
Thai sal haue thair fewell in our Mounk myre … as we sall assygne to thame 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 159/18.
Ilk ane … turnit thair face to the same regioun To thame assignit 1570 Leslie 143.
Sindrye uderis … gat certaine pensiones assinit to thame be King Henry of Ingland a1578 Pitsc. I. 386/8.
Thir wickit preistis … assignitt to him of ȝeirlie rent … xxx M. pound(b) 1410–1 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 30.
With assent of bayth the partyeis [we have] assingnit thaim our schreff court to be haldine … at the foirsayd moirsyd 1491 Treasurer's Accounts I. 177.
To the Lard of Tynwald to beyt the hous of Lowmabane … quhilk wes assingnit him to tak of ane vnlaw 1513 Doug. iii. ii. 140.
Assyngnand ilkane propir howsis and aucht 1521 Misc. Spald. C. V. 293.
Hafand therto the fewell … as efferis, as we sall assyng to thaim 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 272/26.
Sa the Stewart to Lodwik did assing That ilk chalmer was Alexanders ludgeing 1581 Melvill 111.
To denominat and assinge the places whar the Assemblies of particular Elderschips sould convein c1590 Fowler 105/31.
Bot harder & more horrible the supper he assingis
b. To appoint, fix, or set (a day, hour, etc.).(a) 1385 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. 410/2.
The Curt … assignet thareto Tewisday the xxi. day of Auryll next for to caus his dome to precede c1420 Wynt. v. 3362.
On that certane set day, That for that caus assygnyd thai 1456 Hay I. 287/29.
The king suld assigne certane day of bataill … to the appelloure 1488 Lanark B. Rec. 3.
The balyeis assignit xv dayis to the pament of the said soum 1537 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 413.
In kes the said bernis … be absent … at the our assyg[n]yt 1556 Peebles B. Rec. 236.
The inqueist … assignis the nixt court day … to the said Johne to tak consultatioun 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii. 15.
At ane day assigned to them be the schiref(b) c1420 Wynt. vii. 3035.
The Kyng assyngnyd than thaim a day At Edynburch 1532 Stirlings of Keir 348.
Courtis of justice to fix, day and place to assing
c. To appoint or fix for a certain date.1499 Dunferm. B. Rec. 104.
It is assingit and ordanit this day xv dayis … to bring his warand 1559-1600 St. A. Kirk S. 357.
The seat asinnis this action to this day aucht dayis
3. To allege or adduce (a reason, etc.).1456 Hay I. 209/4 (the resoun quhy he assignis, sayand … ). a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 604 (in sentence schort sadlie to assigne).
