Obs. [a. AF. assiser, f. assise ASSIZE.]
† 1. trans. To set, place.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 122. The which [stars] upon his heved assised He bereth. Ibid., 126. Right so ben devised The signes twelve, and stonde assised.
a. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., I. 430. Assise And yote on it tilpavyng playne and strong.
2. To fix, ordain, appoint.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 228. The king … hath therof a time assised. Ibid., I. 181. Two cardinales he hath assised … That with his doughter shulden go.
3. To determine, decide, judge.
c. 1399. Pol. Poems (1859), II. 11. Ȝit natheles the lawe stant assised Of mannys wit to be so resonable.
4. To assess, value, rate.
1393. Gower, Conf., Prol. I. 5. That this prologue is so assised.
1624. Bp. Mountagu, Gagg, 2. It is a Prophecy; and Prophecies are assised at obscurity.
5. To assess. a. To fix the amount of (a tax). b. To value for the purposes of taxation.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccccix. 712. In tyme past, whan Gaunt was assysed, Andwarpe was of lyhte valur. Ibid., II. xlix. (R.). Taxes and tallages [were] assysed in cytees and good townes.
6. To regulate or fix (weights, measures, prices, etc.) according to an ordinance or standard.
1566. Painter, Pal. Pleas., I. 15. If the people will haue victuals and corne at that price, whereat it was assised and rated in time past.
c. 1638. Ord. Priv. Counc., in Penkethman, Artachthos, H ij b. When the second Wheat is at 3l. the Quarter, he may make and assize his Bread, as if the same Wheat were at 3l. 6s. the Quarter.
1638. Chart. Goldsm. Co., in A. Ryland, Gold & Silver Wares (1852), 191. Persons, who shall bring … any weight called troy weight to be assized, according to his Majesty’s standard.
