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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.

Assithment, Assythment, n. Also: assithe-, assitht-, assich(t)-; assythe-, assyithe-, assychtment. [f. Assith v.]

1. Satisfaction given to a person by payment, esp. by way of compensation for loss or injury; reparation, indemnification.In later use spec. ‘an indemnification due to the heirs of a person murdered, from the person guilty of the crime’ (Bell).(a) 1456 Hay I. 166/20.
Nocht gaynstandand that this said knycht had tane satisfactioun and assithement of the barouns gudis 1463 Wemyss Chart. 83.
Land grantit to me for my lywetyme … for the restitucione off my touchyr and assithtment tharoff 1485 Breadalbane Doc. (Reg. H.) No. 22.
Til a ful asithment be maid of the saidis soumes abovne expremit 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 256/1.
Providing that thai mak assithment and amendis to the kyn and freindis of the said umquhill Neill and Malcolme 1539 Treas. Acc. VII. 257.
Given to him to pay ane Frencheman quhilk was hurt with the schot of ane gun in the Fortht and mutilat of his finger in assithment, xxij li. 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Bote.
Ane man-bote is assithment for the slauchter of ane man 1629 Stirling's Royal Lett. I. 343.
To … mak ressonabill offers unto the said widow and childring … for assithment and lettre of slaines 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. 548.
This satisfaction is by the Civilians called reparatio damnorum, by us an Assithment(b) 1456 Hay I. 166/28.
He has tane rycht gude assythement tharfore 1526 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 227.
Ordanis the said Jhone Forster till content and pay to the guid toun … in assythment and contentatioun of the escheit of his guidis … the sowme of ten pundis 1530 Montgomery Mem. .
[He] sall giff the said Erle his letteris in deu forme of slanis or assythment 1585 Acts III. 422/1.
That scho may haif sum ressounabill assythment and satisfactioun of byganis 1606 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 58.
For satisfactioun and assythment of the skaith, hurting, bluiding and wounding of … John Chalmer 1607 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI .
Mr. Iames … wald glaidlie … mak satisfactioun and assyithement 1663 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I. 71.
If he produce not an Assythment from the Partie against that time they will proceed 1687 Misc. Spald. C. V. 237.
Ten merks of assythment [to be paid] to the complainer injured

b. Const. of (the offence, or the party concerned). 1490 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 46.
For part of assithment of the said blasfemmy, the said Cristian sall cum … to the hie altar [etc.] 1521 Dunferm. B. Rec. 195.
The said Andro Brovnne for assithment of the comunite promittit to sell in the tovne twa chalderis of quheit [etc.] 1562 Peebles B. Rec. 280.
For assithement of [your] honouris we offer ws to performe all thingis according to the loveable vse of the cuntre 1661 Decis. Lords G. 1.
The Laird of Niddrie having given a bond of 7000 merks ... for satisfaction and assythment of the mutilation of Wolmett's hand

2. Satisfaction other than monetary. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Mk. xv. 15.
Pilat, willand to mak assithment to the pepile, left to thame Barrabas 1560 Rolland Seven S. 161/32.
Sa to counsall thir thre kingis did conuene, … How that thay micht on Rome reuengeit be, … And culd na way on thame get assythment 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 157.
Quhen … James wes depairtit this lyff, thow vaunted publictlie, saying … that thow had gottin thy hartis desyr and assythment of the said James