assess

[ uh-ses ]

verb (used with object)

1. to estimate officially the value of (property, income, etc.) as a basis for taxation.
2. to fix or determine the amount of (damages, a tax, a fine, etc.):

   The hurricane damage was assessed at six million dollars.

   Synonyms: adjust, appraise

3. to impose a tax or other charge on.
4. to estimate or judge the value, character, etc., of; evaluate:

   to assess one's efforts.

   Synonyms: appraise

assess

/ əˈsɛs /

verb

1. to judge the worth, importance, etc, of; evaluate
2. foll by at to estimate the value of (income, property, etc) for taxation purposes

   the estate was assessed at three thousand pounds

3. to determine the amount of (a fine, tax, damages, etc)
4. to impose a tax, fine, etc, on (a person or property)

Derived Forms

• asˈsessable, adjective

Other Words From

• as·sess·a·ble adjective
• o·ver·as·sess verb (used with object)
• re·as·sess verb (used with object)
• un·as·sess·a·ble adjective
• un·as·sessed adjective
• well-as·sessed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of assess¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English assessen, from Old French assesser, from Medieval Latin assessāre “to assess a tax,” derivative of Latin assessus “seated beside (a judge)” (past participle of assidēre ), equivalent to as- “toward” + sed- (stem of sedēre “to sit”) + -tus past participle suffix; as-, sit ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of assess¹

C15: from Old French assesser, from Latin assidēre to sit beside, from sedēre to sit

Example Sentences

"I’ve seen many people try their luck… and the courts are quite rigorous in the way they assess these arguments," she said.

From BBC

The landmark legislation will give the regulator powers to assess the impact of the Premier League's controversial 'parachute payments' to relegated clubs as part of a 'State of the Game' review every five years.

From BBC

Nineteen amendments have been proposed by the Fair Game campaign group, including excluding the possibility that the owner of a club could be a state or state-controlled entity, and making the state of the game review assess player welfare, along with an examination of multi-club ownership.

From BBC

Working to meet that goal, Soboroff and Johnson had brought in the global architecture firm Gensler to design modular projects at several sites on the campus and the engineering and environmental firm Psomas to assess the sites.

From Los Angeles Times

Depending on how you choose to assess the Premier League table, Amorim arrives with United either 13th, way below expectations, or only four points off a Champions League place, for which fifth might be good enough.

From BBC

Related Words

• appraise
• check
• determine
• estimate
• fix
• gauge
• judge
• weigh