I. əˈsent also aˈ- intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English assenten, from Old French assenter, from Latin assentari, from assentire, adsentire, from ad- + sentire to feel, think — more at sense
1. : to give or express one's concurrence, acquiescence, or compliance : consent
he at once assented to my wishes — W.F.DeMorgan
2. : to admit as true : express one's agreement or concession
we see and immediately assent to the beauty of an object — Joseph Addison
Synonyms:
consent , accede , acquiesce , agree , subscribe : assent indicates a concurring, either a positive agreeing or more passive conceding, without expressed doubts or objections
I fully assent to the proposition that here as elsewhere the distinctions of the law are distinctions of degree — O.W.Holmes †1935
“Yes, of course”, said the lady, vaguely, evidently assenting to the doctor's remark rather than expressing a conviction of her own — G.B.Shaw
consent indicates a complying, granting, or yielding, willing or reluctant, to request or demand
whatever you ask of me I will consent to — George Meredith
at first Mary would not wed the white man, but in the end consented to do so in order to help forward conversions among her people to the Christian faith — I.B.Richman
accede may heighten suggestions of conceding or yielding to something proposed, with or without pressure or importunity
he suggested that they go to his room and talk it over. She acceded without demur — S.H.Adams
Mr. Bennet could have no hesitation in acceding to the proposal before him — Jane Austen
acquiesce stresses the fact of compliance without effective opposition or resistance
it seemed mad and stupid to Ripton's sense of reason, but he was a bondsman and bound to acquiesce — George Meredith
he was obliged to acquiesce in the repression of his individuality — Van Wyck Brooks
agree may suggest an according or concurring, often one arrived at after settling differences and points at issue
it might make a bad impression. Myles had to agree with that, if reluctantly — J.F.Powers
whatever answers the philosophers of history might eventually agree on — C.E.Black & E.C.Helmreich
the United States has tacitly agreed to Russia's occupation of the Kurile islands — Vera M. Dean
subscribe may indicate a ready willingness not only to concur in but to endorse and maintain
those scientists who subscribe to the current program in its entirety, who would follow blindly, who could produce a synthetic enthusiasm even if they retained doubts — Vannevar Bush
Russia declared war on Japan and subscribed to the terms presented to Tokyo by its three great allies — Vera M. Dean
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from assenter
1.
a. archaic : acquiescence , compliance , consent
b. obsolete : common accord : general approval
c. : concurrence with approval : sanction
assent to ratification would be by simple majority — F.A.Ogg & P.O.Ray
— compare royal assent
2. : the accepting as true or certain of something (as a doctrine or conclusion) proposed for belief
rational assent may arrive late, intellectual conviction may come slowly — T.S.Eliot
3. : agreement with a statement or proposal especially in a matter of minor importance or one detached from personal concern : mere acquiescence
give a nod of assent
— distinguished from consent