Forms: 3–5 asent(e, acent(e, 4–6 assente, 4– assent. Aphet. 4–5 sent. (Pa. t. and pple. 4–5 asent, assent.) [a. OF. a(s)sente-r:—L. assentāre (-āri), irreg. freq. of L. assentīre (-īri), f. as- = ad- to + sentīre to feel, perceive, think, whence also F. assentir, used in OF. beside assenter, and now the only form.]
1. intr. To give the concurrence of one’s will, to agree to (a proposal), to comply with (a desire). Arch. in general sense, and commonly replaced by consent, exc. as said of the sovereign assenting to a measure, or as in 4. (Rare obs. const. for.)
1297. R. Glouc., 96. Þe maydenes wolde raþer dye, þan acente þer to.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 1596. The kyng assentede to his bone.
a. 1450. Myrc, 1644. Ȝef þow ley on hym more Thenne he wole asente fore.
1576. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 329. The Maister assented easily to their desire.
1670. Ld. North, in Somers, Tracts (1748), I. 2. Having assented to a Publication.
1771. Junius Lett., xliv. 237. The constitutional duties of a house of Commons are … to propose or assent to wholesome laws.
1864. Tennyson, En. Ard., 126. Would Enoch have the place? And Enoch all at once assented to it.
1863. Cox, Inst. Eng. Govt., II. iii. 341. The Lords passed a resolution, to which the King assented.
b. without prepositional const. arch.; see prec.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 2692. He swor his oþ · þat he a-sent nold.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. V. 98. So alle myne claymes ben quyt · by so þe kynge asente.
1611. Bible, Luke xxiii. 24. Pilate gaue sentence [marg. assented] that it should be as they required.
1878. B. Taylor, Pr. Deukalion, II. ii. 65. Assent, and the future is sure.
† c. with inf. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Judith xii. 10. Go, and sweteli moue this Ebru, that … she sente to dwelle with me.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. III. 170. To be maried for monye · mede hath a-sented.
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), IV. 297. And thou wert well assent To let it ren owt most plenteosly.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xx. (1632), 979. The summe assented to be gathered was sixescore thousand pounds.
† d. trans. (elliptically) To agree to, sanction. Obs.
c. 1641. Strafford, Lett., II. 120. If it shall be thought fit … I assent it with all my heart.
1675. Traherne, Chr. Ethics, xx. 329. Godliness, and honesty, need nothing but to be maintained and assented by the prince.
† 2. intr. To come to an agreement as to a proposal; to agree together, determine, decide. Const. to, into. Obs.
c. 1300. Beket, 1107. To this consail everechone assentede.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Man of L. T., 246. They sworen and assenten every man To lyf with hir and dye.
c. 1440. Bk. Curtasye, in Babees Bk., 316. Þo clerke of kechyn, countrollour, Stuarde, coke, and surueyour, Assenten in counselle … How þo lorde schalle fare at mete.
1470–85. (ed. 1634) Malory, Arthur (1816), I. 107. Into this counsel the five kings assented.
† b. esp. in pa. pple. Come to agreement, come to a conclusion or resolution, agreed. Obs.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 538. Whan sche so was a-sented · sche seide sone after.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, XXXIII. 13008. The Rebellis … þat were assent to the slaght of his sure fader.
c. 1430. Syr Generides, 2025. Thoo baronnes were assented sone Al hir will forto doone.
1528. More, Heresyes, IV. Wks. 276/1. Yf the worlde were assented therunto.
† c. trans. To agree, determine, decide upon (a thing proposed). Obs.
c. 1300. K. Alis., 1480. They assentyn, by on assent, A riche croune of red gold.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Doctor’s T., 146. Whan that assented was this cursed reed.
1591. Lambarde, Archeion (1635), 143. No matter shall be assented, but at the least there assent thereunto foure Councellors.
† 3. intr. To conform in practice, submit, yield (to). Obs.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 4386. He sal þam turment Þat wille noght til his law assent.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 169. Schir Ihon the balleol … Assentyt till him, in all his will.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 84. To assent is better þan for to offer þe fatnes of schep.
a. 1520. Myrr. our Ladye, 7. I laboure to kepe the wordes … as farre as oure language wyll well assente.
1636. Healey, Epictetus’ Man., xxvii. 33. To curbe thy minde from too quicke assenting to thine eye.
† b. trans. with cognate object. Obs.
1615. T. Adams, Leaven, 105. They … that … subscribe and assent obedience to his hests.
4. To give or express one’s agreement with a statement or matter of opinion; to agree to an abstract proposition, or a proposal that does not concern oneself, or involve one’s own action. Const. to (with, unto, obs.). The ordinary modern use as distinguished from CONSENT.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Three Treat., 24. Crist wole not assent with thes, for thei may not be sothe.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. I. 190. Al þe route of ratons · to þys reison a-sentede.
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, xlviii. 49. To this word assentyd ful foure and twenty.
1612. Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. 1655, Pref. 2. This opinion is also assented unto by holy Scriptures.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 411, ¶ 4. We see, and immediately assent to the Beauty of an Object.
1718. Free-thinker, No. 90. 243. My readers will readily assent to the Truth of what I have observed.
1874. F. Hall, in N. Amer. Rev., CXIX. 329. Assenting to the premises, we reject the conclusion.
b. without prepositional const.
1528. More, Heresyes, I. Wks. 126/1. Which thinge bicause I daily se, I assented.
1611. Bible, Acts xxiv. 9. The Iewes also assented, saying that these things were so.
1735. Pope, Prol. Sat., 201. Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer.
1873. Black, Pr. Thule, iii. 40. She assented with a gracious smile.
† c. with or to a person, i.e., to his opinion. Obs.
1632. Heywood, Iron Age, I. I. i. Æneas, your aduise assents with vs.
1695. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth (1723), 25. Some … fully assent to me herein.
1783. Watson, Philip III. (1793), II. VI. 255. They undoubtedly assented to the king in the opinion he entertained.
† 5. refl. in prec. senses. Obs.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., III. xi. 95. I assent[e] me quod I.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, X. 4241. All assentid hom sone, þat his saw herd.
1447–8. Shillingford, Lett. (1871), 51. To which bothe parties … aggreed and assented ham.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur (1816), II. 98. ‘I assent me thereto,’ said sir Palomides.
