assise
|a-sise|
/əˈsaɪz/
a legal sitting / fixed regulation
Etymology
'assise' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'assise', where the root (from Latin assimilations of 'assidere' / 'ad-' + 'sedere') meant 'to sit'.
'assise' passed into Middle English from Old French as 'assise' and has been used in English with meanings 'a sitting' or 'a statute'; over time the variant spelling 'assize' became more common in English legal usage.
Initially, it meant 'a sitting' (a session of judges) or 'a fixed ordinance'; over time the term became specialized and archaic in general use, with 'assize' surviving in specific legal and historical contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a sitting or session of a court; a judicial session (historical/archaic).
The assise was held in the county town, where judges heard many cases.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a statute, ordinance, or fixed regulation—especially historical measures (e.g., assize of bread and ale).
Medieval towns enforced the assises for weights and measures to protect consumers.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/03 19:38