Etymology Map
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Assign

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to allocate a task or duty

Where does the word "assign" come from? It comes from Latin assignare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
assignare
Latin · ancient
"to mark out"
'ad-' plus 'signare', to mark, from 'signum', sign
2
Stage 2 of 3
assigner
Old French · medieval
"to allot"
a legal term for transferring property
3
Stage 3 of 3
assign
English · 1300s
"to allot"
school 'assignments' date from the 1800s
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Read the full story

Assign’s story begins in Latin: assignare meant “to mark out.” 'ad-' plus 'signare', to mark, from 'signum', sign. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as assigner. A legal term for transferring property. It reached English by 1300s as assign. School 'assignments' date from the 1800s. Today, assign means to allocate a task or duty.