ppl. a. and sb. Also 5 asigne, assygne, 5–6 assigne. [a. OF. a(s)signé, pa. pple. of assigner to ASSIGN. Assign sb.2 and assignee both represent the ME. assigne; in the former the final -e has become mute in popular use, in the latter it has been retained in legal use through the influence of law French, and at length refashioned as -ee. (The 15th c. instances of assigne belong equally to ASSIGN sb.2)]
A. ppl. a. Assigned, appointed.
1494. Fabyan, VII. 488. Chargynge his lordes with theyr assygnes sowdyours, to mete with hym … at the cytie of Arras.
B. sb.
1. One who is appointed to act for another; a deputy, agent or representative. = ASSIGN sb.2 1.
1419. H. Stafford, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., III. 28, I. 65. Swych as ȝe left assigne of ȝoures.
1494. Fabyan, VII. 316. If the cytie were not by kynge John, or his assygneys, rescowyd.
c. 1600. Norden, Spec. Brit., Cornw. (1728), 65. A howse … occupied by the assignees of the Bishop of Exon.
1713. Steele, Englishm., No. 15. 99. To Nestor Ironside, Esq.; or in his absence to the Englishman, his Assignee.
1809. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., V. 229. That the assignee is the real agent of the party claiming the debt.
2. One to whom a right or property is legally transferred or made over; = ASSIGN sb.2 2.
1467. Bury Wills (1850), 47. To his heyrys and assigneis for euermoore.
1613. E. Kirke’s Will, in Spenser’s Wks. (1882), III. Introd. 113. The saide Richard his heires and Assignees. Ibid. To haue and to houlde to her and to her Assignes.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., II. 327. In assignments he parts with the whole property, and the assignee stands to all intents and purposes in the place of the assignor.
1876. Digby, Real Prop., x. § 1. 380. The assignee of the lease has the same interest as the lessee (his assignor).
3. Assignees in bankruptcy: those to whom the management, realization and distribution of a bankrupt’s estate is committed, on behalf of the creditors.
1687. Lond. Gaz., No. 2294/4. Several of the Creditors … nominated Assignees.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., II. 480. Assignees, or persons to whom the bankrupt’s estate shall be assigned, and in whom it shall be vested for the benefit of the creditors.
1843. Mill, Logic, VI. ix. § 5. The official assignees in bankruptcy.
4. A convict assigned as unpaid servant to a colonial settler.
1843. Penny Cycl., XXV. 139/2. It is comparatively difficult to obtain another assignee,—easy to obtain a hired servant.
