Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Assent?

\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. Who informed the governor . . . And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so. --Acts xxiv. 9. The princess assented to all that was suggested. --Macaulay. Syn: To yield; agree; acquiesce; concede; concur.
\As*sent"\, n. [OE. assent, fr. assentir. See {Assent}, v.] The act of assenting; the act of the mind in admitting or agreeing to anything; concurrence with approval; consent; agreement; acquiescence. Faith is the assent to any proposition, on the credit of the proposer. --Locke. The assent, if not the approbation, of the prince. --Prescott. Too many people read this ribaldry with assent and admiration. --Macaulay. {Royal assent}, in England, the assent of the sovereign to a bill which has passed both houses of Parliament, after which it becomes law. Syn: Concurrence; acquiescence; approval; accord. Usage: {Assent}, {Consent}. Assent is an act of the understanding, consent of the will or feelings. We assent to the views of others when our minds come to the same conclusion with theirs as to what is true, right, or admissible. We consent when there is such a concurrence of our will with their desires and wishes that we decide to comply with their requests. The king of England gives his assent, not his consent, to acts of Parliament, because, in theory at least, he is not governed by personal feelings or choice, but by a deliberate, judgment as to the common good. We also use assent in cases where a proposal is made which involves but little interest or feeling. A lady may assent to a gentleman's opening the window; but if he offers himself in marriage, he must wait for her consent.