Meanings
plural assythments · alternative assythement · alternative dated assithment
- 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 252 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 1235I, 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
- Old Frenchaset
- Englishassythment
From assyth + -ment, from Old French aset, asez, originally meaning "enough". See assets.
More words from Old French
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
assythment. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/assythment
“assythment.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/assythment. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “assythment,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/assythment.
Source: assythment on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.