assign

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to select something or someone for a specific purpose

   The teacher assigned one student to lead the class in the exercise.

2. 2
   verb

   to decide as to where something belongs in a scheme

   The biologist assigned the mushroom to the proper class.

3. 3
   verb

   to attribute or give

   I assigned them their due.

4. 4
   verb

   to transfer one's right to

   I assigned everything to my heirs.

5. 5
   verb

   to give out

   We were assigned new uniforms.

6. 6
   verb

   to confer responsibility for a task, or for holding the duties of a post

   I was assigned to the class down the hall.

7. 7
   verb

   To designate or set apart (something) for some purpose.

   to assign a day for trial

8. 8
   verb

   To appoint or select (someone) for some office.

   to assign counsel for a prisoner

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *sek- Proto-Indo-European *-nóm Proto-Italic *seknomdenom. Proto-Italic *seknāō Latin signō Latin assignōlbor. Old French assignerbor. Middle English assignen English assign From Middle English assignen, from Old French assigner, asigner, from Latin assignō, from ad- + signō (“mark, sign”).