I. ə-ˈsīn transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French assigner, from Latin assignare, from ad- + signare to mark, from signum mark, sign
Date: 13th century
1. : to transfer (property) to another especially in trust or for the benefit of creditors
2.
a. : to appoint to a post or duty
assign ed them to light duty
assign ed me two clerks
b. : to appoint as a duty or task
assign s 20 pages for homework
3. : to fix or specify in correspondence or relationship
assign counsel to the defendant
assign a value to the variable
4.
a. : to ascribe as a motive, reason, or cause especially after deliberation
b. : to consider to belong to (a specified period of time)
Synonyms: see ascribe
• as·sign·abil·i·ty -ˌsī-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē noun
• as·sign·able -ˈsī-nə-bəl adjective
• as·sign·er ə-ˈsī-nər or as·sign·or ˌa-sə-ˈnȯr, ˌa-ˌsī-, ə-ˌsī- noun
II. noun
Date: 15th century
: assignee 3
heirs and assign s