[as.sign] vt [ME, fr. OF assigner, fr. L assignare, fr. ad- + signare to mark, fr. signum mark, sign] (13c) 1: to transfer (property) to another esp. in trust or for the benefit of creditors
2. a: to appoint to a post or duty "~ed them to light duty" "~ed me two clerks" b: to appoint as a duty or task "~s 20 pages for homework"
3: to fix or specify in correspondence or relationship "~ counsel to the defendant" "~ a value to the variable"
4. a: to ascribe as a motive, reason, or cause esp. after deliberation b: to consider to belong to (a specified period of time) syn see ascribe -- as.sign.abil.i.ty n -- as.sign.able adj -- as.sign.er or as.sign.or n
[2]assign n (15c): assignee 3 "heirs and ~s"