Dictionary

assythment en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /əˈsaɪθmənt/ (Scotland)
• /əˈsɛθmənt/ (Scotland)
• /əˈsaɪðmənt/ (US)
• /əˈsʌɪðmənt/ (UK)

Etymology

From assyth + -ment, from Old French aset, asez, originally meaning "enough". See assets.

Meanings

1. (countable, historical, qualifier:Scots law, uncountable) Compensation or reparation for a criminal offence.
   • It may be observed that assythment is not due to the next of kin of a person slain where the offender hath by the exertion of public justice suffered the punishment due to his crime; but whether it can be demanded from the king's donatary where the criminal hath fled from justice and forfeited his movable estate upon a sentence of fugitation, may be doubted. 1871, John Erskine, An Institute of the Law of Scotland, volume 2, page 1235:
   • Although there is no precise statistical analysis of assythments, bonds of manrent were only very rarely used in such circumstances. 2003, Christine Peters, Women in Early Modern Britain, 1450-1640, page 25:
   • I, Fergus and my Heirs and Assignies, against all deadly the foresaid Three Daughs, and the forenamed Land of Ardendraught, with their pertinents, liberties and assythments and other privileges as aforesaid. 1894 February 14, Scottish Notes and Queries, volume 7, page 140:

Forms