v. Obs. Forms: 2 asottie, 4 asote, 4–5 assote, 6–8 assot. [a. OF. a(s)soter, f. à to + sot fool, SOT.]
1. intr. To become or act like a fool; to become infatuated, foolishly fond, madly in love.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 17. Gif þu hine iseȝe þet he wulle asottie to þes deofles hond.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 235. That he ne assote To chaunge for the womanhed The worthinesse of his manhed. Ibid., 281. Eke I not for what emprise I shulde assote upon a nonne.
2. trans. To make a fool of, infatuate, befool.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 237. Thilke firy rage Of love, which the men assoteth.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., 110. See how drunkenesse assotteth a man.
a. 1626. Bp. Andrewes, Serm. (1856), I. 348. They assot themselves, they will not conceive aright of their estates.
1741[?]. Squire of Dames, xxvii. in Dodsl., Poems (1770), IV. 130. As couthful fishers at the benty brook, By various arts assot the seely fry.
3. in pa. pple. assotted. Infatuated.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 2007. Þow ert a-sotid.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 270. The riche … Assoted were upon her love.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, 114. Loth … was assoted by moche drynkynge of wyn.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. ccxxxvii. (ccxxxiii.) 736. The kynge was so asotted on this syr Hugh Spenser.
1610. Gwillim, Heraldry, III. xvii. (1660), 209. So much were the Israëlites assotted in Idolatry.
