assythment

A1S1S1Y4T1H4M3E1N1T1
UK/əˈsʌɪðmənt/US/əˈsaɪðmənt/Scotland/əˈsaɪθmənt/Scotland/əˈsɛθmənt/

noun

Compensation or reparation for a criminal offence.

Scrabble 18

Meanings

nounassythment (countable and uncountable, plural assythments)

plural assythments · alternative assythement · alternative dated assithment

  1. countablehistoricaluncountableScots lawCompensation or reparation for a criminal offence.

    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
    2 more examples

    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

    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 28, Scottish Notes and Queries, volume 7, page 140

Origin

  1. Old Frenchaset
  2. Englishassythment

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

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

assythment. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/assythment

MLA

“assythment.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/assythment. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “assythment,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/assythment.

Source: assythment on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.