† aˈsseth(e, n. Obs.
Forms: 4 aseeth, a seeth, 4–5 aseth, a-seth, assethe, 5 a seth, a-sethe, asethe, aseyth, asseth, (assete, assetz). Aphet. seth(e. See also assyth for the northern forms.
[a. OF. a(s)set (pronounced aˈseθ), also ases, asez, n., orig. the same word as asez, assez adv. ‘enough’:—late L. ad satis, for cl. L. sat, satis, ‘enough’ (see assets). In the phrase satis facĕre, OF. aset fere, fere aset, ‘to make amends,’ the adv. was treated as a n. ‘amends,’ nom. ases (asez), objective aset, which was the form adopted in Eng. As final -t in OF. was = (θ) (cf. faith, poortith), aseth was the reg. ME. spelling. The word had no connexion in Eng. with assets, and was obsolete before the latter came into English use.]
Satisfaction; compensation, amends, reparation, expiation. to make asseth or do asseth (= OF. fere aset, L. satis facĕre): to satisfy (desires), expiate (sin), make atonement (to a person for a wrong).
| 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 3610 Thurgh assethe makyng, Als thurgh penance of fre[n]des and fastyng. c 1375 Wyclif Serm. v. Sel. Wks. 1869 II. 237 To make aseþ for mannis synne. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xvii. 237 If it suffice nouȝte for assetz [other MSS. asseth]..Mercy..wil make good the remenaunte. 1382 Wyclif 1 Sam. iii. 14 The wickidnes of hys hows shal not be doon a seeth. 1388 ― Mark xv. 15 Pilat, willynge to make aseeth [1382 to do ynow] to the puple. 1430 Lydg. Chron. Troy iv. xxxviii, To make assete by oblacyon For the thefte. 1436 Test. Ebor. (1855) II. 217 They sall have amendis and asseth for thare losse. 1461 Paston Lett. 408 II. 36 Compelle hem to make amendes and sethe to the pore peple. 1494 Fabyan vi. cxciv. 199 He made a seth and amendes to Goddes pleasure. |