noun

1. Historical a legislative assembly or any of its decrees
2. court sessions held periodically in each county of England to try civil and criminal cases
3. the time or place of such sessions
4. an inquest, the writ instituting it, or the verdict
5. Archaic
   1. a law regulating standards of price, measure, weight, ingredients, etc. for goods to be sold
   2. these standards

Etymology: ME & OFr assise, court session < asseoir < L assidere: see assess