\As*sign"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Assigned}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Assigning}.] [OE. assignen, asignen, F. assigner, fr. L.
assignare; ad + signare to mark, mark out, designate, signum
mark, sign. See {Sign}.]
1. To appoint; to allot; to apportion; to make over.
         In the order I assign to them.        --Loudon.
         The man who could feel thus was worthy of a better
         station than that in which his lot had been
         assigned.                             --Southey.
         He assigned to his men their several posts.
                                               --Prescott.
2. To fix, specify, select, or designate; to point out
   authoritatively or exactly; as, to assign a limit; to
   assign counsel for a prisoner; to assign a day for trial.
         All as the dwarf the way to her assigned. --Spenser.
         It is not easy to assign a period more eventful.
                                               --De Quincey.
3. (Law) To transfer, or make over to another, esp. to
   transfer to, and vest in, certain persons, called
   assignees, for the benefit of creditors.
{To assign dower}, to set out by metes and bounds the widow's
   share or portion in an estate. --Kent.

\As*sign"\, n. [From {Assign}, v.]
A thing pertaining or belonging to something else; an
appurtenance. [Obs.]
      Six French rapiers and poniards, with their assigns, as
      girdles, hangers, and so.                --Shak.

\As*sign"\, n. [See {Assignee}.] (Law)
A person to whom property or an interest is transferred; as,
a deed to a man and his heirs and assigns.

\AS*sign"\, v. i. (Law)
To transfer or pass over property to another, whether for the
benefit of the assignee or of the assignor's creditors, or in
furtherance of some trust.