_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_.