v. Also 5 affure, 6 affer, 7 affear. [a. OFr. afeure-r, affeure-r (Anglo-Fr. afere-r, affere-r), earlier aforer (Sp. aforar):—late L. afforā-re to fix the price, or market value, f. ad to + forum market, in late L. also ‘market-price.’]
1. To fix or settle the amount of an amercement, to assess; to reduce to a fair or equitable amount.
1467. Ordin. Worc., in E. E. Gilds, 395. Affurers of good name and fame … to assesse and affure all such amerciaments.
1516. Modus tenendi Cur. Baronum (Pynson), C i. Chose ii. iii. or iiii. afferers to affer the court.
1523. Fitzherbert, Surveying, 21 [See AFFEEROR].
1581. Lambarde, Eiren., IV. xvi. (1602), 541. By the great Charter that Amercement and summe of money, which he is to pay … ought to be assessed & affeered by the good and lawful men of the neighbourhood.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 13. The amerciament of every Juror shall be affeered according to his offence.
1738. Hist. View Crt. Excheq., iii. They used likewise to affere, or bring in their own Assessments, just as the Freemen in a Court-Baron do affere the assessments of those who are absent.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., IV. IV. xxix. 379. Amercements imposed by the superior courts on their own officers and ministers were affeered by the judges themselves.
2. fig. To settle, confirm.
c. 1440. Partonope, 3128. The bisshope he gan his tale subtilly All affere and seyde.
1605. Shaks., Macb. IV. iii. 34. Great Tyrrany, lay thou thy basis sure, For goodnesse dare not check thee! wear thou thy wrongs, The Title, is affear’d.
