Obs. Forms: 3 asunien, asonien, 3–5 asoyne, 4 assoyne, assoine, 4–6 Sc. assonȝe, -zie, yie, 7 assoygne. [variant of ESSOIN v., a. OF. essoigner: see prec.]
1. trans. To excuse; to offer or put in an excuse for non-appearance of.
a. 1230. Ancr. R., 64. Uor swuch hit mei beon þat ȝe schulen asunien [v.r. aseinen, asonien] ou.
c. 1330. Florice & Bl., 67. Ne scholde no weder me assoine.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks. (1871), 440. Worldliche excusasioun shal not þenne assoyne.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XIII. Prol. 133. How think we he assonzeis [v.r. essonȝies] him to astart.
1646. Gaule, Cases Consc., 65. Such as are absent, and have no care to be assoygned.
2. intr. To excuse oneself, decline, refuse.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 15. Assoynynge or refusynge.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, X. 365. With gret inwy to Wallace fast he raid; And he till him assonyeit nocht for thi.
