assign

[uh-sahyn] /əˈsaɪn/
verb (used with object)
1.
to give or allocate; allot:
to assign rooms at a hotel.
2.
to give out or announce as a task:
to assign homework.
3.
to appoint, as to a post or duty:
to assign one to guard duty.
4.
to designate; name; specify:
to assign a day for a meeting.
5.
to ascribe; attribute; bring forward:
to assign a cause.
6.
Law. to transfer:
to assign a contract.
7.
Military. to place permanently on duty with a unit or under a commander.
verb (used without object)
8.
Law. to transfer property, especially in trust or for the benefit of creditors.
noun
9.
Usually, assigns. Law. a person to whom the property or interest of another is or may be transferred; assignee:
my heirs and assigns.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English assignen < Old French assigner < Latin assignāre. See as-, sign
Related forms
assigner; Chiefly Law. assignor
[uh-sahy-nawr, as-uh-nawr] /ə saɪˈnɔr, ˌæs əˈnɔr/ (Show IPA), noun
misassign, verb
nonassigned, adjective
preassign, verb (used with object)
preassigned, adjective
reassign, verb (used with object)
self-assigned, adjective
unassigned, adjective
well-assigned, adjective
Synonyms
1. Assign, allocate, allot mean to apportion or measure out. To assign is to distribute available things, designating them to be given to or reserved for specific persons or purposes: to assign duties. To allocate is to earmark or set aside parts of things available or expected in the future, each for a specific purpose: to allocate income to various types of expenses. To allot implies making restrictions as to amount, size, purpose, etc., and then apportioning or assigning: to allot spaces for parking. 4. fix, determine. 5. adduce, allege, advance, show, offer.
British Dictionary definitions for assign

assign

/əˈsaɪn/
verb (mainly transitive)
1.
to select for and appoint to a post, etc: to assign an expert to the job
2.
to give out or allot (a task, problem, etc): to assign advertising to an expert
3.
to set apart (a place, person, time, etc) for a particular function or event: to assign a day for the meeting
4.
to attribute to a specified cause, origin, or source; ascribe: to assign a stone cross to the Vikings
5.
to transfer (one's right, interest, or title to property) to someone else
6.
(also intransitive) (law) (formerly) to transfer (property) to trustees so that it may be used for the benefit of creditors
7.
(military) to allocate (men or materials) on a permanent basis Compare attach (sense 6)
8.
(computing) to place (a value corresponding to a variable) in a memory location
noun
9.
(law) a person to whom property is assigned; assignee
Derived Forms
assignable, adjective
assignability, noun
assignably, adverb
assigner, noun
Word Origin
C14: from Old French assigner, from Latin assignāre, from signāre to mark out
Word Origin and History for assign
v.

c.1300, from Old French assiginer (13c.) "assign, set (a date, etc.); appoint legally; allot," from Latin assignare "to mark out, to allot by sign, assign, award," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + signare "make a sign," from signum "mark" (see sign). Main original use was in English law, in transferences of personal property. General meaning "to fix, settle, determine, appoint" is from c.1300. Related: Assigned; assigning.