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Assign vs Appoint - What's the difference?

assign | appoint |

In transitive terms the difference between assign and appoint

is that assign is to attribute or sort something into categories while appoint is to furnish completely; to provide with all the equipment necessary; to equip or fit out.

As a noun assign

is an assignee.

assign

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (lb) To designate or set apart something for some purpose.
  • :
  • (lb) To appoint or select someone for some office.
  • :
  • (lb) To allot or give something as a task.
  • *(Robert Southey) (1774-1843)
  • *:The man who could feel thus was worthy of a better station than that in which his lot had been assigned .
  • * (1796-1859)
  • *:He assigned to his men their several posts.
  • *
  • *:Captain Edward Carlisle; he could not tell what this prisoner might do. He cursed the fate which had assigned such a duty, cursed especially that fate which forced a gallant soldier to meet so superb a woman as this under handicap so hard.
  • (lb) To attribute or sort something into categories.
  • To transfer property, a legal right, etc., from one person to another.
  • To give (a value) to a variable.
  • :
  • Derived terms

    * assignment * assignable * assignation

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An assignee.
  • (obsolete) A thing relating or belonging to something else; an appurtenance.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Six French rapiers and poniards, with their assigns , as girdles, hangers, and so.
    English transitive verbs

    appoint

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To fix with power or firmness; to establish; to mark out.
  • * 1611 , (King James Version) Proverbs 8.29
  • When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
  • To fix the time and place of a meeting (by a decree, order, command etc.)
  • * 8 November 2014 , Ivan Hewett in The Telegraph'', '' Art on demand makes emperors of us all
  • *:We have to wait until they're ready to receive us, and make sure we turn up at the appointed time.
  • * 1820 , The Edinburgh Annual Register
  • *:His Royal Highness called to pay his respects to her Majesty ; but, from the unexpected nature of his visit, her Majesty was not in a state then to receive him ; but soon after sent a letter to Prince Leopold, to appoint one o'clock this day for an interview.
  • * 1611 , (King James Version) 2 Samuel 15.15
  • Thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint .
  • To give a job or a role to somebody
  • * 3 November 2014 , Fredric U. Dicker in the (New York Post), '' Cuomo appointed 'vote or else' strategist
  • *:Neal Kwatra, appointed by Cuomo to be the state Democratic Party's chief campaign strategist, was identified by two key Democratic insiders
  • * 1611 , (King James Version) Numbers 4.19
  • Aaron and his shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service.
  • To furnish completely; to provide with all the equipment necessary; to equip or fit out.
  • * 2009 , Donald Olson, Germany for Dummies
  • *:The hotel is beautifully designed and beautifully appointed in a classic, modern style that manages to be both serene and luxurious at the same time.
  • (archaic, transitive, legal) To direct, designate, or limit; to make or direct a new disposition of, by virtue of a power contained in a conveyance;—said of an estate already conveyed.
  • :(Alexander Mansfield Burrill)
  • To point at by way of censure or commendation; to arraign.
  • * Milton
  • Appoint not heavenly disposition.

    Derived terms

    * appointee * appointer * appointive * appointment * self-appointed