# assess

Pronunciation: say "uh-SES" /əˈsɛs/

## Verb

1. To determine or estimate the value, quality, or significance of something.
   - Simple: To look at something carefully to decide how good, big, or important it is.
   - _Inspectors assess the building's safety before it can open to the public._
   - _Analysts carefully assess market trends before advising their clients._
2. To officially set or impose a tax, fine, fee or penalty and charge it to someone.
   - Simple: To officially charge someone a tax, fine or fee, or give them a penalty.
   - _The league assessed the team a fine for violating the rules._
   - _Courts may assess penalties on companies that pollute rivers._

## Origin

Latin assidēre, from ad ("to, towards, at") and sedeō ("sit, settle down"), had the past participle assessus. Medieval Latin assessare began as a frequentative of that form, and it passed through Old French assesser into Middle English assessen. Spanish asentar ("to settle") is a cognate.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/assess (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).