▪ I. † aˈssoin(e, n. Obs.
Also 3 asoyne, assoyne, 4 Sc. assonȝe.
[Variant of essoin, a. OF. essoigne, essoine: see a- prefix 10, as- prefix2.]
An excuse; a legal excuse put in for non-appearance.
| 1297 R. Glouc. 539 Giffardes asoyne. a 1300 Cursor M. 2266 Þat schending is wit-outen soyne [v.r. soygne, Trin. MS. assoyne]. c 1300 K. Alis. 6051 Thider com withowten assoyne, Two quenes of Amazoyne. c 1375 ? Barbour St. Thomas 52 Þat al..Suld but assonȝe cume to þat feste. |
▪ II. † aˈssoin(e, v. Obs.
Forms: 3 asunien, asonien, 3–5 asoyne, 4 assoyne, assoine, 4–6 Sc. assonȝe, -zie, yie, 7 assoygne.
[variant of essoin v., a. OF. essoigner: see prec.]
1. trans. To excuse; to offer or put in an excuse for non-appearance of.
| c 1230 Ancr. R. 64 Uor swuch hit mei beon þat ȝe schulen asunien [v.r. aseinen, asonien] ou. c 1330 Florice & Bl. 67 Ne scholde no weder me assoine. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. (1871) 440 Worldliche excusasioun shal not þenne assoyne. 1513 Douglas æneis xiii. Prol. 133 How think we he assonzeis [v.r. essonȝies] him to astart. 1646 Gaule Cases Consc. 65 Such as are absent, and have no care to be assoygned. |
2. intr. To excuse oneself, decline, refuse.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 15 Assoynynge or refusynge. c 1470 Henry Wallace x. 365 With gret inwy to Wallace fast he raid; And he till him assonyeit nocht for thi. |