Law. Forms: 5–7 essoyne, 6–8 essoign(e, 6–7 essoine, 7 (Sc.) essonyie, -zie, 7– essoin. See also ASSOIN v. [a. OF. essoignier, essoinier, essoyner, f. essoyne:—med.L. ex-soniāre, f. ex out + sonia, sunnis lawful excuse, f. OHG. sunna, sunnia, corresp. to OS. sunnea doubtfully explained as ‘want, lack,’ ON. syn refusal, denial; the OTeut. type coincides in form with that of Goth. sunja truth; the OHG. sense must have existed in Goth., which has the derived vb. sunjôn to excuse.]
1. trans. To offer an excuse for the non-appearance of (a person) in court; to excuse for absence. Also, To essoin one’s attendance.
1495. Act 11 Hen. VII., c. 5. The defendaunt … be not essoyned.
1607. Cowell, Interpr., s.v., The causes that serue to Essoine any man summoned be diuers and infinite: yet drawne to fiue heads.
1609. Skene, trans. Acts Will. (an. 1165), c. 26 § 1. 7. Gif ane man is essonyied at the fourt day, be reason of seiknes … or being beȝond Forth: he sall have respit, or ane continuation of fourtie days.
1642. Perkins, Prof. Bk., xi. 332. The Plaintiffe is essoined so that I cannot answer unto him.
1651. trans. Kitchin’s Courts Leet, 272. The Tenant was Essoyned and at the day made default.
1738. Hist. Crt. Excheq., ii. 23. They might excuse or essoign their Attendance, and attend by Deputy.
1885. L. O. Pike, Year-bks. 12 & 13 Edw. III., Introd. 30. The tenant … caused himself to be essoined.
2. To accept an excuse from, let off (a person).
1620. Quarles, Jonah, Div. Poems (1717), 30. Away with wings of time, (I’ll not essoin thee).
