Middle English Dictionary Entry
assent n.
Entry Info
| Forms | assent n. Also acent. |
| Etymology | OF as(s)ent |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Consent, approval; formal endorsement; ben at ~, to consent; bi non ~, without any approval, not at all; (b) acquiescence, connivance.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)515 : Ich wele ben at acent Þat þou sschalt wedde belecent.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)57/1262 : Wiȝ outen assent of barouns hende.
- (1375) Award Blount in ORS 7205 : This endowment was made by the asent and grement of the seide Isabell.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.945 : Creon..wol nat suffren hem, by noon assent, Neither to been yburyed nor ybrent.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2981 : Dame Prudence hadde herd the assent of hir lord Melibe.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.3380 : This yonge king..Anon therto yaf his assent.
- (1405) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.40 : Wyth outen accorde or assent of the forsaid sir Roger and his heirs.
- (1409) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.125176 : Thise are the ordenauncez..that are made..be the assent and consent of all the hale crafte of the marsshals in the cite..of Yorke.
- (1418) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.1.15 : He hath ȝiven his assent ther to.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.165 : Withouten assent of hire, ne do nat so.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)42/5 : Þai did Criste to deed withouten leue and ascent [F conge] of þe emperour.
- (1443) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.125182 : It is ordayned, by the ful assent and consent of both the saide craftes.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)272/12 : Thi tunge may swere a lie without the assente of thine hert.
- (1461) Paston (Gairdner)3.297 : I wyll nothyng graunt withowt the under shreves assent.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)106/264 : Þe holy gost..A-bydyth þin answere and þin assent.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.973 : If he synne with a womman by force or by hire owene assent.
- c1440(a1349) Rolle 10 Com.(Thrn)11/32 : The fifte commandement es, þat thow slaa na man, nowthire with assente ne with werke.
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)97/11 : Þe synnes of þe hert er þir: ill thoght, ill delyte, assent till synne.
- a1450(1400) Eche man be war (Dgb 102)4 : Eche man be war..Of counseil of double entendement..And synguler profit by fals assent.
- c1425 Wycl.Church (Dub 245)p.xxiv : Fals mayntenyng makiþ eretikis. & So assent wiþ siche falshed bryngiþ inne ofte eresies.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)121/12 : In þe assent of Cristys deþe þay becom frendys.
2.
(a) Mutual agreement (of two or more parties); commun ~; bi, of, through ~, by mutual agreement; also, harmony [quot. 1400 Pearl]; singen with on ~, sing in unison [quot. 1425 Nicod.]; (b) at, bi, with on ~, in complete agreement, of one mind, unanimously, etc.; saughten at on ~, reconcile; bi, with ful or hol ~.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)56/1570 : Ase þer mot atter spousyng Be ryȝt a-sent of boþe, Of man and of þer wymman ek.
- (1357) Gaytr.LFCatech.(Yk-Borth R.I.11)68/344 : Matirmonye..a lawefull festenyng betwix man and woman At thair bother assent for to lyve samen.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1838 : Þurgh matrymony..were two o flessh made be assent.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10527 : Þys batayle was, þurgh here boþe assent, Besyde a watyr.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9709 : Wit-vten vr al comun asent Agh to be mad na jugement.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.69 : Harald..þorgh comon assent Was corouned nobly.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)788 : He syȝe þer swey in asent swete men tweyne.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)94 : Quen þose bryddez her wyngez bete, Þay songen wyth a swete asent.
- a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)1539 : A sang þai said with ane assent, þat was þis Alleluya.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)1 Cor.7.5 : If it be of assent [L ex concensu].
- a1425 KAlex.(LinI 150)1681 : By alle heore comune assent, A lettre þey hauiþ to him sent.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.BC (Trin-C R.3.20)115 : Þe wyves..Haue of assent made þeyre avowe.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)3949 : Þe numbre was be ryȝt assent Off hors-men an hondrid þousend.
- (1474) RParl.6.100a : The Kyng, by th'advis and assent of the Lordes Spirituelx and Temporelx, and the Commens, in this present Parlement assembled..hath ordeyned, establisshed and enacted, that [etc.].
b
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)54.15 : We ȝede in in Goddes hous wyþ on assente.
- (1389) Lond.Gild Ret.in Bk.Lond.E.(PRO C 47/var.)45/30 : Þe brethren & sustren of þe bretherhede at on assent..shul euery ȝer come & hold..a fest.
- c1390 I warne vche (Vrn)38 : And men vnsauȝte loke þou assay, To sauȝten hem þenne at on assent.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.523 : Centauri..Of on assent, of on acord This yonge wif malgre hire lord..awei forth ladden.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1478 : Hij sauȝtten by on assent A riche coroune.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19513 : Þe folk wit full assent Til his wordes gaf þair tent.
- (1413) Will in Bdf.HRS 218 : Wyþ oole assent to mynystre & to fulfylle my last Wille.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)777 : Of Thebes Edippus shal be kyng By ful assent; was non that seid nay.
- a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)725 : Þan said þe iews with ane assent [vrr. by one assent, with alle assente].
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)8391 : Þai [in heaven] salle alle be of ane assent And of a wille and of ane entent.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)2072 : Thus thay were at on acent For to gyfe hym that juggement.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10600 : Þo souerains were of asent hole, Þerein batell to byde.
- (c1475) Doc.in Bk.Brome (Brm)150 : We, Wyllm. B...and Anneys my wyffe, with on a-sent hath ȝowyne and grantyd, [etc.].
3.
(a) Sentiment, attitude, opinion; ben at assent, agree in sentiment; (b) will, intent, intention; bi fre ~, par ~, voluntarily, willingly; (c) of (at)..assent, associated (with sb.) in sentiment, purpose, or activity (such as an offense or crime); ben of ~, be an associate or accomplice.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.3075 : This is my ful assent..That ye shul..taken hym for housbonde and for lord.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)4.150 : Ȝif hit beo so þat Boxumnesse beo at [vr. of] myn assent.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1532 : Men moste enquere, this is myn assent, Wher she be wys or sobre or dronkelewe.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)391 : I wolde bysech..Ȝe wolde me say in sobre asente What lyf ȝe lede.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)2205 : He gatte of hys assent Datan and abyron, And told þem his entent.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)250 : Vnworthy ys that assent; For euery resonable creature Wythoute mercy may nat lyue.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)1937 : They ne wolde noȝt be of hys assente.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)2604 : Withe myldenesse we shall be-gynne..And at thys Assent All they ware.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)1357 : Sith it wyll no better be, I cord with that assent.
b
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.852 : To kepe his forward by his free assent.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.113 : The god was evere and evere schal, And thei begonne of his assent.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)4955 : Ȝe salde him alle egain mi assent [Vsp: consent].
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.554 : I have ek thought, so it were hire assent, To axe hire at my fader, of his grace.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1547 : For to bedote this queen was here assent.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)10/14 : Alexander, bi ascent & ordynance of kynge Philippe, gadird a grete Oste.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1016 : We..come to þee now par asent; oure loue is on þee lent.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)5101 : They myghte..the releff off hym take fful devoutly off assent.
- a1500 Degrev.(Cmb Ff.1.6)863 : Hyt ys my lordys assent With-ynne for to be.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.758 : Thow art oon of his assent, To sleen vs yonge folk.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1603 : Whan the tresoun of Cateline Descoevered was, and the covine Of hem that were of his assent Was knowe [etc.].
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)278/23 : Þow art an enemy..hit semeþ wel þat ȝe beþ of her assent.
- (1430-31) RParl.4.375b : Certeyns subornatz proves and persones of hir assent and covyne.
- (1436) RParl.4.498a : Ye forsaid William Pulle ye forsaid Isabell drogh and ledde..to ye Parysh Kirk of Bidstone..havyng with hym a Prest of his aune assent, to wedde theym togeder.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)390/310 : All þat hastis hem selue to hange, Als Judas and Archedefell..And alle of þare assente.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)68 : Hastely to hell he [Lucifer] wentt..All dyd the same of hys assent.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)131/459 : Ayther mak or gyll was at that assent.
4.
at..assent, ?at a meeting agreed upon; ?at the appointed time or place, on (that) occasion.
Associated quotations
- a1425 Alle þt thenke (LdMisc 463)p.203 : And he beo at þat assent At þe day of Iugement, þat point shal on him beo pilt.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)103/27 : Þare-in was ordande, Vn-wedded men sulde stande Al sembled at asent.
- a1500 Eglam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)1096 : Grete lordys were at the assent; Waytys blewe, to mete they wente Wyth a fulle ryalle chere.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)110 : Cesar Iulyus Was passid out of Rome..Ouer thalpies, in knyhthood ful famous, Bassent of Fortune, notable & glorious; This marcial man, Armyd in plate & maile, Had ouerriden the boundis of Itaile.
Note: New form: Contraction: bassent (= bi assent).
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1.(a).
Note: The list of variant spellings in the extant form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--notes per MLL