Past tense of assent; agreed to something, gave approval or permission to.
From Old French 'assentir,' from Latin 'assentiri' (to agree with), from 'ad-' (to) + 'sentire' (to feel or perceive). The meaning has remained relatively stable since Latin—it's about aligning one's feelings with another's.
In formal English and literature, 'assent' is the quieter, more dignified cousin of 'agree'—you assent to solemn oaths or grave matters, whereas you'd just 'agree' about dinner plans, giving the word a certain gravitas.
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