assign

UK: əˈsaɪn | US: əˈsaɪn

Definition

  1. vt. to allocate or designate someone/something for a specific purpose

  2. vt. to attribute or ascribe (e.g., a meaning or value)

  3. n. (rare) a person appointed to a task or role

Structure
as <to, toward>sign <mark>as <to, toward>sign <mark>
Etymology

The word "assign" originates from Old French assigner, derived from Latin assignare (to mark out, allot). The Latin ad- (toward) + signare (to mark) reflects the act of directing or attaching a symbolic marker to something—logically evolving into the modern sense of allocating or attributing.

Examples

  1. The manager will assign tasks to each team member.

  2. Historians assign great importance to this event.

  3. She was assigned as the project lead.

  4. Can you assign a value to this variable?

  5. The judge assigned blame to both parties.