Part 398

As`se*cure" (&?;), v. t. [LL. assecurare.] To make sure or safe; to assure. [Obs.] Hooker.

As`se*cu"tion (&?;), n. [F. assécution, fr. L. assequi to obtain; ad + sequi to follow.] An obtaining or acquiring. [Obs.] Ayliffe.

As"se*gai (&?;), n. Same as Assagai.

As*sem"blage, n. [Cf. F. assemblage. See Assemble.] 1. The act of assembling, or the state of being assembled; association.

In sweet assemblage every blooming grace. Fenton.

2. A collection of individuals, or of individuals, or of particular things; as, a political assemblage; an assemblage of ideas.

Syn. -- Company; group; collection; concourse; gathering; meeting; convention. Assemblage, Assembly. An assembly consists only of persons; an assemblage may be composed of things as well as persons, as, an assemblage of incoherent objects. Nor is every assemblage of persons an assembly; since the latter term denotes a body who have met, and are acting, in concert for some common end, such as to hear, to deliberate, to unite in music, dancing, etc. An assemblage of skaters on a lake, or of horse jockeys at a race course, is not an assembly, but might be turned into one by collecting into a body with a view to discuss and decide as to some object of common interest.

As*sem"blance, n. [Cf. OF. assemblance.] 1. Resemblance; likeness; appearance. [Obs.]

Care I for the . . . stature, bulk, and big assemblance of a man? Give me the spirit. Shak.

2. An assembling; assemblage. [Obs.]

To weete the cause of their assemblance. Spenser.

As*sem"ble (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assembled (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Assembling (&?;).] [F. assembler, fr. LL. assimulare to bring together to collect; L. ad + simul together; akin to similis like, Gr. &?; at the same time, and E. same. Cf. Assimilate, Same.] To collect into one place or body; to bring or call together; to convene; to congregate.

Thither he assembled all his train. Milton.

All the men of Israel assembled themselves. 1 Kings viii. 2.

As*sem"ble, v. i. To meet or come together, as a number of individuals; to convene; to congregate. Dryden.

The Parliament assembled in November. W. Massey.

As*sem"ble, v. i. To liken; to compare. [Obs.]

Bribes may be assembled to pitch. Latimer.

As*sem"bler (&?;), n. One who assembles a number of individuals; also, one of a number assembled.

As*sem"bly (&?;), n.; pl. Assemblies (&?;). [F. assemblée, fr. assembler. See Assemble.] 1. A company of persons collected together in one place, and usually for some common purpose, esp. for deliberation and legislation, for worship, or for social entertainment.

2. A collection of inanimate objects. [Obs.] Howell.

3. (Mil.) A beat of the drum or sound of the bugle as a signal to troops to assemble.

In some of the United States, the legislature, or the popular branch of it, is called the Assembly, or the General Assembly. In the Presbyterian Church, the General Assembly is the highest ecclesiastical tribunal, composed of ministers and ruling elders delegated from each presbytery; as, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, or of Scotland.

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Assembly room, a room in which persons assemble, especially for dancing. -- Unlawful assembly (Law), a meeting of three or more persons on a common plan, in such a way as to cause a reasonable apprehension that they will disturb the peace tumultuously. -- Westminster Assembly, a convocation, consisting chiefly of divines, which, by act of Parliament, assembled July 1, 1643, and remained in session some years. It framed the "Confession of Faith," the "Larger Catechism," and the "Shorter Catechism," which are still received as authority by Presbyterians, and are substantially accepted by Congregationalists.

Syn. -- See Assemblage.

As*sem"bly*man (s*sm"bl*man), n.; pl. Assemblymen (- men). A member of an assembly, especially of the lower branch of a state legislature.

As*sent", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assented; p. pr. & vb. n. Assenting.] [F. assentir, L. assentire, assentiri; ad + sentire to feel, think. See Sense.] To admit a thing as true; to express one's agreement, acquiescence, concurrence, or concession.