Also 5–7 assigne. [ME. assigne (three syllables), a. F. assigné, pa. pple. of assigner to ASSIGN, has split into two forms in mod.E. assign and assignee. In the former, ME. -e (like final -e from other sources) became mute in 15th c., and disappeared in mod.E. (Cf. avow(e, F. avoué:—L. advocātus; costive, F. costivé:—L. constipātus, etc.) In the latter, final -e was preserved through the influence of law French, and was at length analogically written -ee. (Cf. avowee, advowee, beside avow(e.) The 15th c. assigne might represent either pronunciation, and belongs equally to assign and assignee. Cf. ASSIGNEE.]
† 1. One who is appointed to act for another, a deputy, agent or representative; = ASSIGNEE 1. Obs.
1526. Ord. R. Househ., 224. Their servants, factors, or assignes.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. (1863), 413. [We] are but delegates or assignes to giue men possession of his graces.
1714. Fr. Bk. of Rates, 31. As the Owner, or his Deputy, or Assign shall desire.
2. One to whom a property or right is legally transferred; = ASSIGNEE 2. Esp. in the phrase heirs and assigns: see quot. 1865.
c. 1450. Pol., Rel., & L. Poems (1866), 24. To thyne heyres & assygnes alle-so.
1590. Swinburn, Testaments, 74. To him and his assignes for terme of life.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 200, ¶ 11. Made payable to … her Assigns.
1844. Williams, Real Prop. Law (1877), 64. Thus, a purchaser from him in his lifetime, and a devisee under his will, are alike assigns.
1865. Nicholls, Britton, II. xvi. I. 312. It was in favour of bastards that the word assigns [F. assignez] was first devised.
† 3. An appurtenance, a belonging. Obs. rare.
1602. Shaks., Ham., V. ii. 157. Sixe French Rapiers and Poniards, with their assignes as Girdle, Hangers, or so.
