_To_ a.s.sOILYIE, _v. a._
1. To acquit, to free from a charge or prosecution; a forensic term much used in our courts, S.
_Reg. Maj._
2. To absolve from an ecclesiastical censure; as from excommunication.
_b.e.l.l.e.n.den._
Old E. _a.s.soil_, _asoilen_, and _asoul_, denote the absolution by a priest; P. Ploughman.
3. To p.r.o.nounce absolution from sin, in consequence of confession.
_Abp. Hamiltoun._
4. To absolve from guilt one departed, by saying ma.s.ses for the soul; according to the faith of the Romish church.
_Barbour._
5. Used improperly, in relation to the response of an oracle; apparently in the sense of _resolving_ what is doubtful.
_Douglas._
6. Also used improperly, as signifying to unriddle.
_Z. Boyd._
O. Fr. _a.s.soile_, _absoille_, decharge, absous, despense; Gl.
Roquefort; corr. from Lat. _absolv-ere_.
_To_ a.s.sONYIE, ESSONYIE, _v. a._
1. To offer an excuse for absence from a court of law.
_Stat. K. Will._
2. Actually to excuse; the excuse offered being sustained.
_Quon. Attach._
3. To decline the combat, to shrink from an adversary.
_Wallace._
O. E. _asoyned_, excused; R. Glouc. _Essoine_, a legal excuse, Chaucer.
V. ~Essonyie~, _s._
Fr. _essoyner_, _exon-ier_, to excuse from appearing in court, or going to the wars. Su. G. _son-a_, Germ. _sun-en_, to reconcile, to explain; Moes. G. _sunj-an_, to justify.
a.s.sURANCE, _s._ To take _a.s.surance_ of an enemy; to submit, to do homage, under the condition of protection.
_Complaynt S._
Fr. _donner a.s.surement_, fidem dare; L. B. _a.s.secur-are_, from Lat.
_ad_ and _secur-us_.
ASTALIT, _part. pa._ Decked or set out.
_Gawan and Gol._
Fr. _estail-er_, to display, to shew.
_To_ ASTART, ASTERT, _v. n._
1. To start, to fly hastily.
_King"s Quair._
2. To start aside from, to avoid.
_King"s Quair._
Teut. _steert-en_, to fly; Germ, _starz-en_, to start up.
ASTEER, _adv._ In confusion, in a bustling state; S. q. _on stir_.
_Ritson._
ASTRE, _s._ A star; Fr.
_Chron. S. Poet._
AT, _conj._ That; O. E. id. Gower.
_Barbour._
Dan. and Swed. _at_, quod; Su. G. _att_, a conjunction corresponding to Lat. _ut_.