Also 4–7 -ement, 5 -ament, assygnement. [a. OF. assignement, ad. late or med.L. assignāmentum (whence assignament), f. assignāre: see ASSIGN v. and -MENT.]
1. The action of appointing as a share, allotment.
1460. Capgrave, Chron., 198. Was assigned to the qween his modir a dowary, that men had no mende of swech assignament.
1628. Coke, On Litt., 36 a. An assignement of Dower … may be made of more then a third part.
1850. Merivale, Rom. Emp., II. xx. 394. Assignment of lands to the veterans.
2. Legal transference of a right or property (cf. ASSIGN v. 2); the document that effects or authorizes the transference.
1592. West, Symbol., A iiij. § 104. To avoid or frustrate the foresaid grants and assignements.
1668. Child, Disc. Trade (1698), 137. No Debts, after Assignment, to be liable to any Attachments.
1768. [see ASSIGNEE 2].
1861. Goschen, For. Exch., 35. A will not be able to pay B by giving him an assignment on C.
† 3. = ASSIGNATION 3. Obs.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714), 34. The poor Man had rather have a 100 Marks in hand, than a 100 Pound by any Assignement.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. II. 15. [He] had drawn assignments and anticipations upon the Revenue.
1678. Trans. Crt. Spain, 121. To accept the pensions and assignments which he injoys.
† b. = ASSIGNATION 4. Obs.
1622. Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 335. Paiments by assignement in Banke without handling of moneys.
1708. Lond. Gaz., No. 4496/4. Lost…, one Order of the Bankers Assignments, No. 1783, for 4l. 7s. 8d. per Ann.
4. The allotting of convicts as unpaid servants to colonists; the condition of such service.
1843. Penny Cycl., XXV. 139/2. The operation of assignment in respect to female convicts is even worse.
1845. Darwin, Voy. Nat., xix. (1879), 445. The years of assignment are passed away with discontent and unhappiness.
† 5. Appointment to office, nomination, designation; setting apart for a purpose. Obs.
1447. Bokenham, Lyvys of Seyntys, 56. I am the aungel the whiche at assignement Of God am comaundyde thy kepre to be.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 632/2. By gouernours of hys assignement.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. (1666), 143 (J.). The only thing which maketh any Place publick, is the publick assignment thereof unto such Duties.
† 6. Appointment, command, bidding. Obs.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 15. Went … By his faders assignement To make a wer.
1494. Fabyan, VII. 346. By his assygnement, the erle of Glowcetyr was than lodgyd within the cytie.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., Concl. Nations fulfilling their times by Heauens asignement.
1744. Life Boyle, in Penny Cycl., V. 297/2. Had he been permitted an election, his choice would scarce have altered God’s assignment.
† 7. Appointment or arrangement of day and place for a meeting; an assignation. Obs.
1670. Cotton, Espernon, II. v. 213. In expectation … of an assignment from you, of a day, and place.
8. Attribution as belonging or due to.
1690. Locke, Govt., I. xi. 163 (J.). This Divine Institution which Assigns it to a Person, whom we have no Rule to know, is just as good as an Assignment to no body at all.
1847. Lewes, Hist. Philos. (1867), II. 398. By his assignment of definite functions to definite organs.
9. Allegement, statement (of a reason).
1651. Jer. Taylor, Clerus Dom., 5. An assignment … must be made of certain reasons.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. iv. 426. The assignment of these reasons.
10. A pointing out, specification.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 44. The Philosophical assignment of the cause.
1868. Skeat, Mœso-Goth. Gloss., Pref. 4. The assignment of the passage in which they occur.
† 11. An assigned measure, a definite amount. Obs.
1519. Horman, Vulg., 29. All bestz be withyn a certaine assignement of theyr quantite.
1533. Elyot, Cast. Helth (1541), 8. Increase … in quantitie or qualitie over … their natural assignement.
12. [Cf. ASSIGN v. 16.] The act of signing, signature.
1598. Wills & Inv. N. C., II. (1860), 332. Upon the assignment of a generall acquittance.
