noun

1. anything owned that has exchange value
2. a valuable or desirable thing to have charm is your chief asset
3. Accounting all the entries on a balance sheet showing the entire resources of a person or business, tangible and intangible, including accounts and notes receivable, cash, inventory, equipment, real estate, goodwill, etc.
4. Law
   1. property, as of a business, a bankrupt, etc.
   2. the property of a deceased person available to his or her estate for the payment of debts and legacies

Etymology: earlier assets < Anglo-Fr assetz (in legal phrase aver assetz, to have enough) < OFr assez, enough < VL *ad satis, sufficient < L ad, to + satis, enough: see sad