English
assent
Assent comes from Latin assentiō ‘to assent or approve’, from sentiō ‘to feel, to sense, to perceive’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sent-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*sent-‘to perceive’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*sentiō‘to feel, to sense, to perceive’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsentiō‘to feel, to sense, to perceive’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEassentiō‘to assent or approve’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400assent
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1611same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*sent-‘to perceive’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*sentiō‘to feel, to sense, to perceive’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsentiō‘to feel, to sense, to perceive’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEassentiō‘to assent or approve’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400assent
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1611same form
Earliest quotation: 1611, The Holy Bible, London: […] Robert Barker: “And the Jews also assented, saying that these things…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *sent- ‘to perceive’
through Proto-Italic *sentiō ‘to feel, to sense, to perceive’
senseless, insensible, antisense, 26 more
through Latin sentiō ‘to feel, to sense, to perceive’
sense, sensitive, sentence, consent, consensus, sensible, sensation, sensor, sentiment, scent, sensual, sensibility, resent, sentient, sensuous, sentience, sensu, 32 more
Today it means
verb To agree to a proposal.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *sent- / assent