Main Entry:

¹as·sign

Pronunciation:

\ə-ˈsīn\

Function:

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 creditors2 a: to appoint to a post or duty <assigned them to light duty> <assigned me two clerks> b: to appoint as a duty or task <assigns 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