Middle English Dictionary Entry
assẹ̄th n.
Entry Info
| Forms | assẹ̄th n. Also as(s)eeth, a seeþ, aceth(e, aseith, assith(e, a sieth, & (PPl.B) assetz. |
| Etymology | From OF assez (VL ad satis) in the phr. assez feire (cp. VL ad satis facere). assez was taken as the acc. pl. of a noun and an acc. sg. *asset formed, which entered ME as assẹ̄th (cp. ME feith , from AF feit =CF foi) at an early date, although not attested until c1350. (Note that assets, from AF asse(t)z, is not attested in E until 1531, acc. to the OD.) The variant assīth (quot. 1421 RP & later, & the usual Scot. form) has ī from earlier ẹ̄. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Fulfillment, satisfaction, reparation; maken (don) ~, give satisfaction: (a) fulfillment of a wish, expectation or requirement; (b) fulfilling of a need; (c) satisfactory answer to a question or a charge; (d) payment of a debt; reparation for loss suffered or damage inflicted, indemnification.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Mark 15.15 : Pilat, willynge to make aseeth [WB(1): do ynow; L satisfacere] to the puple, lefte to hem Barabas, and bitok to hem Jhesu.
- a1425(?a1400) PCounsel.(Hrl 674)153/11 : But now, for to make aseeþ to þi proude witte, in comendyng of þis werk [etc.].
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)1/2 : To þe askynge of þi desyre, Syster Margarete, couetynge asethe to make..I..this wark has takyn to translacion of lattyn.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)46/5 : [Christ was circumcised] forto make a syþ wyth þe Iewes; elles þay myghten skylfully ha sayde to hym: 'Þou art [not] of our lawe.'
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)42/15 : Aristotel..willand..to make asseth to þe Emperour..made þis booke.
b
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)182 : Fulfyllyn, or make a-cethe [Win: a set] in thynge þat wantythe: Supleo.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))1 Esd.5.5 : Thei shulden don aseeth [WB(2): make satisfaccioun; L satisfacerent] aʒen that acusing.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)8452 : Than to þis questyoun a sieth þou make..syth þou ientyl art..handmayde hou mayst þou be?
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)452 : Crist was neuere axid questioun þat ne he..made aseeþ vpon resoun.
d
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.91 : Þe Danes..schulde make a sethe [L satisfacerent] to þe bisshop.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6177 : To make a-seth by oblacioun For þe þefte of Palladioun, And offren vp þe riche stede of bras To þe goddes þat called is Pallas.
- (1421) RParl.4.151b : So that the paier of the same do to the Receyvour of the same assith and gree unto the value of v s.
- c1425 Castle Love(2) (Eg 927)122 : Who so harmes any man..Sal noʒt be saf, bot he make asseth at his power.
- (1436) Will York in Sur.Soc.30217 : Thay sall have amendis and asseth for thare losse.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)60/24 : Sche..xulde makyn a-seth to ech of hem, þat þei schuldyn heldyn hem content.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)241/2 : On þe next day þei made a-seth for her lodgyng.
- (1439) EEWills119/10 : I woll that they [executours]..Restore and make dew assithe for all maner land that is holden by me..wrongfully.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)490 : Here by-fore he myghte ethe Sone hafe mad me asethe [vr. aseyth].
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)343/6 : I will att þou for him make a sethe vnto me.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)168/13 : 'I haue Sufferid the cruell wronge.'..'Whan y come agayne, I shall do thyn asseth.'
2.
Eccl. Penance or atonement through deeds (as distinct from confession and remorse), such as restitution, prayer, suffering; maken, don ~, make amends.
Associated quotations
- (1357) Gaytr.LFCatech.(Yk-Borth R.I.11)246 : We mai noght be assoiled of the trespas, Bot if we make assethe in that at we may To tham that we harmed.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.237 : So wole þe fader forʒif folke..Þat reufulliche repenten & restitucioun make In as moche as þei mowen amenden & payen. And if it suffice nouʒte for assetz [C 20.203: a-seth]..Mercy for his mekenesse wil make good the remenaunte.
- c1400 GGuy(1) (Tbr E.7)798 : His gude angell sall him take to clensing fire, aseth to make.
- (1422) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.2381 : That she eyte no flesh, to shoo have made a sythe, saynge thre otturings of her sawtar.
- (?c1422) Hoccl.ASM (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)482 : Plener confessioun Make of thy gilt, and satisfaccioun And asseeth do.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)1 Kings 3.14 : The wickidnes of hys hows shal not be doon a seeth before [WB(2): clensid; L expietur] with slayn sacrifices.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)3610 : Help may be On twyn maners..First, through byhyng of paynes..With almus..Another es here thurgh assethe makyng, Als thurgh penance of fre[n]des and fastyng.
- c1425 Castle Love(2) (Eg 927)903 : Penance..has thre parties..Sorow of hert, schrift of mouth, & asseth making.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.1586 : Gret repentaunce he hadde..And made psalmis off gret contricioun..To make a-seeth for his transgressioun.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)250/16 : In the same place þer I truspasid am I commanddid to come & make a sethe.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)4555 : Satysfaccyoun ys to seyne Asseth that ys mad for synne.
- c1475(a1400) Wycl.Conf.(Dub 245)340 : In confessioun of mouþ, & sorow of hert, & a-seet makyng.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.1451 : Who will not repente of his mysdede And make aseith or that he dye, To helle he goith.
- a1500(c1380) Wycl.Papa (Ryl Eng 86)477 : Þes lordis ʒauen aʒen godis þat þey hadden vniustly holdun, & so þei..maken aseeþ for formere synne.
- a1500 GRom.(Add 9066)84 : God cast hym downe out of his Empire, tille he had made a-seth [Hrl: made amendis] to god.
- ?c1500 Farewell this world (Trin-C O.2.53)5 : To make a-sythe for all my grete trespace.
3.
Theol. (a) (Christ's) atonement (for the sins of mankind); (b) intercession (by the Virgin Mary).
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)78/33 : His bodi..made aseeþ at fulle in redempcioun of mankynde.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.237 : Siþ aseeþ muste be maad for Adams synne..sich a persone muste make þis aseeþ þat were boþe God and man.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)7852 : To hys fadyr in heuene a-sythe to make For owr forn-fadrys transgressyoun.
- a1450 Bonav.Medit.(5) (Pep 2125)4/129 : My Fader.., to the hit was pleyng to sende me to the wordle for that entent that the trespas and wrong whiche was do to the of man, I sholde make asseth.
- c1450(c1400) *Rev.Jul.Norwich (Add 37790)106b : [Christ] lered me that I schulde behalde the gloriouse asethe.
- a1500 Treat.GBattle (Hrl 1706)421 : [Christ] made aseeth to the fader in heuyne for the gylt off mankynde.
b
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)405 : It longethe to thyn office ..for to make a-sethe for synfull soules, for thou arte modre of mercy.