Forms: 4–5 asent(e, acent(e, 5 assente, 4– assent. Aphet. 4–5 sent(e. [a. OF. a(s)sent, a(s)sente, f. assenter: see prec.]
1. The concurrence of the will, compliance with a desire. arch. and repl. by consent, exc. as in next.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4955. Ye solde him out of myn assent.
a. 1330. Otuel, 47. And Ich wele ben at acent, That thou sschalt wedde Belecent.
1418. Abp. Chichele, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. 2, I. 5. He hath ȝiven his assent therto.
1739. T. Sheridan, Persius, II. 31. By what do you propose to purchase the Assent of the Gods?
1814. Scott, Ld. Isles, VI. iii. There Bruce’s slow assent allows Fair Isabel the veil and vows.
2. Official, judicial, or formal concurrence of will; sanction; the action or instrument that signifies such concurrence.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Doctor’s T., 204. Thurgh thassent of this juge Apius.
1461. J. Paston, in Lett., 408, II. 35. I wyll nothyng graunt withowt the under shreves assent.
a. 1672. Wren, in Gutch, Coll. Cur., I. 247. All those, whose votes were known to depend upon his will, gave their assents.
1737. Pope, Horace Epist., II. ii. 30. Laws, to which you gave your own assent.
1863. Cox, Inst. Eng. Govt., I. vi. 48. A bill does not become an Act of Parliament until it has received the Royal assent.
1877. Burroughs, Taxation, 407. Those who sign such written assents may withdraw.
† 3. The concurrence of a number of persons in sentiment or purpose; accord. Obs.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., A. 94. Thay songen wyth a swete asent.
c. 1440. Morte Arth. (Roxb.), 72. Through the sente of all … Ganne the kynge a lettre make.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., liv. 38. Crouned and made kyng by assent of the britons.
c. 1500. Lancelot, 421. And one of them, with al ther holl assent. Saith [etc.].
1718. Pope, Iliad, I. 31. The Greeks in shouts their joint assent declare.
b. esp. in phrases By or with one assent, common assent. arch. exc. as influenced by senses 2 and 5.
c. 1300. K. Alis., 1480. They assentyn, by on assent.
c. 1320. Sir Beues, 1713. Be comin acent, Ther was comin parlement.
c. 1485. Digby Myst., II. 477. Let vs both by on assent go to the busshopys.
1538. Starkey, England, 11. Thys cyvyle lyfe was a polytyke ordur … stablyschyd by commyn assent.
1611. Bible, 2 Chron. xviii. 12. The prophets declare good to the king with one assent.
1843. Carlyle, Past & Pr. (1858), 182. Travelling with one assent on the broad way.
† 4. Opinion. Obs.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. IV. 187. Ȝif ȝe bidden buxomnes, be of myne assente.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Merch. T., 288. Men most enquere (this is myn assent) Wher sche be wys, or sobre, or dronkelewe.
c. 1435. Torr. Portugal, 1359. I cord with that assent.
1559. Myrr. Mag., Dk. Suffolk, xviii. 1. The Lords and Commons both of like assent.
5. Agreement with a statement, an abstract proposition, or a proposal that does not concern oneself; mental acceptance or approval. (The ordinary modern use, as distinguished from CONSENT.)
c. 1534. trans. Polyd. Verg. Eng. Hist. (1846), I. 169. Which thinge [he] … sayde not withoute the aspiration and assent of the Hollie Spirit.
1659. Pearson, Creed (1839), 2. This assent, or judgment of any thing to be true.
1794. Sullivan, View Nat., I. 15. I must honestly confess my full assent to the doctrine.
1843. Mill, Logic, Introd. (1868), 5. Our assent to the conclusion being grounded on the truth of the premises.
b. in the formal phrase assent and consent.
1574. trans. Littleton’s Tenures, 9 a. Provinge his assent and consente of such endowemente.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., I. xiv. 143. The deliberate assent and consent of a parliament.
