[a. OF. assignacion (14th c. in Littré), ad. L. assignātiōnem, n. of action f. assignāre: see ASSIGN v. and -ATION.]
1. The action of allotting; apportionment.
1600. Holland, Livy, 919 (R.). As touching the appointment and assignation of those provinces.
1673. Lady’s Call., I. ii. § 13. Since Gods assignation has thus determined subjection to be the womens lot.
a. 1716. Blackall, Wks., 1723, I. 132. Not a Matter of Choice, but of divine Assignation.
1878. Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 73. To hold out visions of assignations of public land … to the multitudes.
2. The action of legally transferring a right or property (see ASSIGN v. 2); formal transference. Also a. formal declaration of transference; b. the transferred interest. (Now usually ASSIGNMENT.)
1579. Fenton, Guicciard., IV. (1599), 176. And sent them foorthwith the assignation of the Castle.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. § 10. Alexander made … a liberal assignation to Aristotle of treasure.
1621. R. Johnson, Way to Glory, 29. Hee had but the assignation and lease of tythes.
1754. Erskine, Princ. Sc. Law (1809), 342. All moveable rights are transmissible by simple assignation.
1809. Tomlins, Law Dict., Assignation is when simply any thing is ceded, yielded and assigned to another.
† 3. The setting apart of certain revenue to meet a claim. Also a. the mandate granting the money; b. the amount thus set apart, a pension, allowance.
1489. Acts Jas. IV., xxiv. Quhatsumeuer assignatioun or gift be made thairupon under the preiue seill.
a. 1626. Bacon, Lopez’ Treason, in Wks. (1740), IV. 390 (T.). He had obtained … an assignation of 50000 crowns to be levied in Portugal.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., III. XIII. 343. They settled an Assignation of six thousand Livers by the Month upon the King, payable out of such a Gabel.
1747. Gentl. Mag., 13 Jan. The payment of the assignations of the purveyors … of the army.
4. Paper currency; a negotiable document representing and secured by revenue or property; a bill, an assignat.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., III. XVI. 601. The custom of that Country, [Holland] … being to make their payments in Paper by Assignations.
1747. Gentl. Mag., 13 Jan. It is not possible it should be satisfied by paper or any assignation.
† 5. Appointment or designation to office. Obs.
1432. Paston Lett., 18, I. 32. The namyng, ordeignance and assignacion beforesaid.
1593. Bilson, Govt. Christ’s Ch., 111. If they be called by Christ, read their assignation from Christ.
1656. Bramhall, Replic., v. 202. Their successors have assignation to particular charges.
† 6. Authoritative appointment, prescription, order. Obs.
a. 1400. Cov. Myst., 93. Be [= by] prayour grett knowleche men recure And to this I counselle ȝou to ȝeve assygnacion.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., IV. (1520), 37 b/1. Seynt Laurence at the assygnacion of his mayster the pope departed this tresour about Rome.
1544. Bale, Sir J. Oldcastell, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), I. 276. Temporall payne, which I am worthy to suffer as an heretike, at the assignacion of my most excellent chrysten Prince.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. vii. § 6. Making assignation … for re-edifying of cities.
7. The appointment of a particular time or place; esp. the arrangement of the time and place for an interview; an appointment, tryst.
1660. Jer. Taylor, Duct. Dubit., II. ii. vi. § 51. This assignation of a definite time.
1680. Crowne, Mis. Civ. War, II. 16. ’Twou’d have spoil’d An assignation that I have to-night.
1854. J. Abbott, Napoleon (1855), II. xii. 197. Compelled to make assignations with as much secrecy as two young lovers.
ǁ b. A summons to appear in court. (Fr.)
1884. Pall Mall Gaz., 31 March, 3/1. And have served assignations upon the Comtesse de Chambord, the Comtes de Paris and de Bardi, and the Duc de Parme.
8. The action of attributing as belonging to or originating in; attribution of origin.
1603. Sir C. Heydon, Jud. Astrol., xxi. 477. He concludeth against the assignation of phlegme to the Moone.
1782. T. Warton, Rowley Enq., 68 (T.). I am happy to find this assignation of Stonehenge … ascertained by so authentic an historian as Turgott!
1865. T. Wright, in Athenæum, No. 1979. 441/3. The true assignation of the bronze weapons.
† 9. A pointing out, indication, assignment (of a cause, etc.). Obs.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 178. His Assignation of the vse of the Bladder of Gall.
1667. Phil. Trans., II. 511. A very ingenious assignation of the cause of that variety.
