APPROPRIATIONS, "bare parsonages of _appropriations_" (R218,_d_), technically, at law (according to Blackstone, I. 11) an _appropriation_ is the transference to a religious house, or spiritual corporation, of the tithes and other endowments designed for the support of religious ordinances in a parish; also these when transferred. When the monastic bodies were in their glory in the Middle Ages they begged, or bought for masses and obits, or in some cases even for actual money, all the advowsons which they could get into their hands. In obtaining these they came under the obligation either to present a clergyman to the church, or minister there in holy things themselves. They generally did the latter, and applied the surplus to the support and aggrandisement of their order. On the suppression of the monasteries in the reign of Henry VIII. the appropriated advowsons were transferred to the king, and were ultimately sold or granted out to laymen, since called _impropriators_. See Respublica. ARRAY, (_a_) "_array_ toward" (R258,_d_), _i.e._ preparations in progress. (_b_) "nice in their _array_" (M14,_b_), dress, equipment, outward appearance. "But for to telle you of his _aray_, His hors was good, but he ne was nought gay."--Chaucer, _Cant. Tales_ (1383), Prologue, 73-4. ASCITE, "I _ascite_ you ... to appear" (IP342,_c_), summons, call. "Hun answered that the infant had no propertie in the shet, wherupon the priest _ascited_ him in the spiritual courte."--Hall, _Henry VIII._, f. 50. ASPEN-LEAF, "tir-tremmeleth as the _aspen-leaf_" (M32,_c_), an early example of a common simile. The text, "tir-trimmeleth," etc., is as in original. ASSAY, _subs._ and _verb_, "_assay_ him I will" (M11,_a_),--"_at_ _all assays_" (M7,_c_), as _verb_ = try, tempt, essay; as _subs._ = at all points, in every respect. "I will _assay_ ere long."--_Jacob and Esau_, Anon. Pl. 2 Ser. (E.E.D.S.), 15_d_; "at all _assays_" (_Ibid._ 53_b_). ASSEMBLE, "I _assemble_ the life" (N89,_b_), compare, liken: cf. Shakespeare's use of _assemblance_.--"Care I for the limb, the thewes, the stature, bulk, and big _assemblance_ of a man!"--Shakespeare, _2 Henry IV._ (1598), iii. 2. ASSIEGE (N89,_b_), siege: see Halliwell, _s.v._ Assege. ATAME, "almsdeed I can _atame_" (N86,_d_), commence, begin: Fr. _entamer_. "Yes, hoste, quod he, so mote I ride or go, But I be mery, y-wis I wol be blamed; And right anon his tale he hath _attamed_."--Chaucer, _Cant. Tales_ (1383), 14824. ATTEMPT, "Ye must _attempt_ the world" (N59,_d_), try, "sample," experience: cf. Shakespeare, _Lear_, ii. 2.