Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Assent, v. [ME. assente (c 1300), assent, OF. assenter, L. assentāre, -ārī]

1. intr. To assent or agree to or till.1375 Barb. i. 169 (Balleoll assentyt till him); ii. 439 (to this word thai assentyt all). c1420 Wynt. iii. 128 (to that assentyd scho); v. 3278 (he wald nawys thare-till assent). 1474 Edinb. B. Rec. 31 (thairto we assentit). a1500 Doug. K. Hart 778 (the king assentit to thair saw). c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1199 (thairto scho wald neuer assent). 1562-3 Winȝet I. 26/9 (not assenting to his factioun in all poynctis).

b. Without to or till. Occas. with inf.1375 Barb. x. 196 E (he assentyt but daunger). c1420 Wynt. vii. 2504 (the kyng off Frawns assentyd then); viii. 253 (Ballyoll assentyd to do all hys will). a1500 Henr. III. 165/85 (in tyme assent, or we be schent with deid). a1500 Doug. K. Hart 775 (Schir king, ȝe man assent). 1562-3 Winȝet II. 76/25 (al the Bischopes with loude woce assentit). a1585 Maitl. Q. lxix. 33 (gif I wald assent with thame to go).

c. To agree (or come to an agreement) that.1375 Barb. vi. 187 (the barnage gert thame assent on this maner, that … ). c1450-2 Howlat 275 (samyn thai assent haile, that … ). a1500 Seven S. 93 (that it suld be sa thai all assentit). a1540 Freiris Berw. 504 (I assent that it be swa). 1559 St. A. Kirk S. 14 (We sall never consent, assent, nor aggree that … ).

2. In passive: To be in agreement.1375 Barb. i. 135 (on this maner assentyt war the barownis); xx. 216 (sen ȝhe all assentit er). 1420 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 181 (the forsaid Lord is assentit). c1420 Wynt. v. 475 (till this assented wes the kyng).