v.; also 4–5 amesure. [a. OFr. amesure-r:—late L. admensūrā-re, f. ad to + mensūrā-re to measure, f. mensūra MEASURE. Occ. refashioned after L. as admesurer in MFr., whence the established Eng. form.]
† 1. To assign a measure or limit to (a thing), to keep in measure; to moderate, limit, control. Obs.
1340. Ayenb., 150. He makeþ man wytvol, and wys, and amesureþ alle þing.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour, 25. Here is a good ensaumple to amesure in this matere bothe herte and thought.
1627. Sir E. Cook, in Rushw., Hist. Coll. (1659), I. 512. The Common-Law hath admeasured the Kings Prerogative.
† 2. To apply a measure to; to measure out. Obs.
1481. Earl Worcester (Caxton), Tulle on Friendsh., iv. 7. Ne lete us amesure it [virtue] after the magnyfycence of wordes.
1599. Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 5. The admeasuring of devotions by tale on beads.
1697. View of Penal Laws, 51. All Keel-boats … that before they be admeasured … shall carry any coal, shall be forfeited.
3. To measure out to (a person); to apportion; to assign to each claimant his rightful share.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 11. Where a woman is endowed … of more than she ought to have … the woman shall be admeasured, and the heire restored to the overplus.
1656. J. Trapp, Expos. Matt. xxii. 11 (1868), II. 233. [God] is in the assemblies of his saints … to admeasure unto them in blessing as they do to him in preparation.
1809. Tomlins, Law Dict., s.v. Common, It recites a complaint that the defendant hath surcharged the common; and therefore commands the sheriff to admeasure and apportion it…. Upon this suit all the commoners shall be admeasured.
