from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Assign \As*sign"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Assigned}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Assigning}.] [OE. assignen, asignen, F. assigner, fr. L.
assignare; ad + signare to mark, mark out, designate, signum
mark, sign. See {Sign}.]
1. To appoint; to allot; to apportion; to make over.
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In the order I assign to them. --Loudon.
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The man who could feel thus was worthy of a better
station than that in which his lot had been
assigned. --Southey.
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He assigned to his men their several posts.
--Prescott.
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2. To fix, specify, select, or designate; to point out
authoritatively or exactly; as, to assign a limit; to
assign counsel for a prisoner; to assign a day for trial.
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All as the dwarf the way to her assigned. --Spenser.
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It is not easy to assign a period more eventful.
--De Quincey.
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3. (Law) To transfer, or make over to another, esp. to
transfer to, and vest in, certain persons, called
assignees, for the benefit of creditors.
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{To assign dower}, to set out by metes and bounds the widow's
share or portion in an estate. --Kent.
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