Middle English Dictionary Entry
assessen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | assessen v. Also acessen. |
| Etymology | ML assessāre |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To fix the rate or sum of (payments, as in taxes, fines, or compensation) by official action; assess, impose (a tax, a fine); allot (compensation); -- often with upon phr.
Associated quotations
- (1444) RParl.5.111a : The Baillifs of every Hundred or Wapentake of the same Shire..be at the next Shire there to be holden, for to assesse the seid wages of the seid Knyghtes;..so that the entier somme of all the Townes withinne any of the saide Hundredes excede not the som assessed upon the Hundred that thei ben of.
- (1448) Shillingford64 : Ther apon yssuys were..assessed at vij li. as for the two writtes.
- (1448) Shillingford79 : Alfe a deme wyche was acessyd and payed.
- (1448) Shillingford81 : The sayd Bysshoppys tenantis..come noght, ne no wyse wolde come to assesse ne paye with the sayde cite.
- (1450) RParl.5.181b : Grete amerciamentez assessed uppon hym for the seid embesilyng.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.5a : Yf eny persone aforseid..paye not the somme..uppon hym assessed [etc.].
- (1474) RParl.6.111b : The said xth part to be assessed, rered and levyed..under certeyn maner, fourme and conditionz in the said Indenture specified.
- (1474) RParl.116b : Yevyng the same Commyssioners auctorite and power to assesse, lymyte, and appoynte a somme certeyne uppon every Cite, Toune, Burgh [etc.].
- (1474) Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.494a : In expences for brede and ale, what tyme we satte to assesse the benyvolens.
2.
(a) To assess (sb., as for an office, a privilege), charge (sb.) a fee; (b) to tax (a community, a person); (c) to fine (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- (1423) RParl.4.258b : The seid Justices have poair to call before hem..all..Artificers and Vitaillers and assesse hem, and iche of hem, to sellen.
- (1433) RParl.4.425b : Aftir the somez that the saide Shires, to the seide xvme and xme, bien assessud.
- (1474) RParl.6.165a : Henry the Sexte, late Kyng of this Realme, in dede and not be right..grauntid for him, his Heires and Successours, that the Maier, Bailyfs and Comonialte of the seid Toune to xx li. only and not over..shulden be assessed, taxed and tailed.
b
- (1444) RParl.5.111a : The seid Shirref..shall..duely assesse every Hundred therto assessable.
- (1447-8) Shillingford107 : His tenantis were assessed and sette, of malys and yvell wyll, to an ymportable some other wyse then ever they wer wont to paye.
c
- (1436) RParl.4.498b : For to assesse and appoynte theym at a resonable fyne..for the seid offence and trespas don.