[as.size] n [ME assise, fr. OF, session, settlement, fr. asseoir to seat, fr. (assumed) VL assedere, fr. L assidere to sit beside, assist in the office of a judge, fr. ad- + sedere to sit--more at sit] (14c) 1 a: a judicial inquest b: an action to be decided by such an inquest, the writ for instituting it, or the verdict or finding rendered by the jury
2. a: the former periodical sessions of the superior courts in English counties for trial of civil and criminal cases--usu. used in pl. b: the time or place of holding such a court, the court itself, or a session of it--usu. used in pl.