Part 404

As*sim"i*la*tive (&?;), a. [Cf. LL. assimilativus, F. assimilatif.] Tending to, or characterized by, assimilation; that assimilates or causes assimilation; as, an assimilative process or substance.

As*sim"i*la*to*ry (&?;), a. Tending to assimilate, or produce assimilation; as, assimilatory organs.

As*sim"u*late (&?;), v. t. [L. assimulatus, p. p. of assimulare, equiv. to assimilare. See Assimilate, v. t.] 1. To feign; to counterfeit; to simulate; to resemble. [Obs.] Blount.

2. To assimilate. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.

As*sim`u*la"tion (&?;), n. [L. assimulatio, equiv. to assimilatio.] Assimilation. [Obs.] Bacon.

As`si*ne"go (&?;), n. See Asinego.

Ass"ish (&?;), a. Resembling an ass; asinine; stupid or obstinate.

Such . . . appear to be of the assich kind . . . Udall.

As*sist" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Assisting.] [L. assistere; ad + sistere to cause to stand, to stand, from stare to stand: cf. F. assister. See Stand.] To give support to in some undertaking or effort, or in time of distress; to help; to aid; to succor.

Assist me, knight. I am undone! Shak.

Syn. -- To help; aid; second; back; support; relieve; succor; befriend; sustain; favor. See Help.

As*sist", v. i. 1. To lend aid; to help.

With God not parted from him, as was feared, But favoring and assisting to the end. Milton.

2. To be present as a spectator; as, to assist at a public meeting. [A Gallicism] Gibbon. Prescott.

As*sist"ance (&?;), n. [Cf. F. assistance.] 1. The act of assisting; help; aid; furtherance; succor; support.

Without the assistance of a mortal hand. Shak.

2. An assistant or helper; a body of helpers. [Obs.]

Wat Tyler killed by valiant Walworth, the lord mayor of London, and his assistance, . . . John Cavendish. Fuller.

3. Persons present. [Obs. or a Gallicism]

As*sist"ant (&?;), a. [Cf. F. assistant, p. pr. of assister.] 1. Helping; lending aid or support; auxiliary.

Genius and learning . . . are mutually and greatly assistant to each other. Beattie.

2. (Mil.) Of the second grade in the staff of the army; as, an assistant surgeon. [U.S.]

In the English army it designates the third grade in any particular branch of the staff. Farrow.

As*sist"ant (&?;), n. 1. One who, or that which, assists; a helper; an auxiliary; a means of help.

Four assistants who his labor share. Pope.

Rhymes merely as assistants to memory. Mrs. Chapone.

2. An attendant; one who is present. Dryden.

As*sist"ant*ly, adv. In a manner to give aid. [R.]