Definition of assignment

The word "assignment" has its roots in the 14th century. The Old French word "assigner" means "to appoint" or "to assign". This French term was derived from the Latin words "assignare", meaning "to allot" or "to allocate", and "assignatio", meaning "the act of appointing". In the 15th century, the English language adopted the word "assign" from Old French, which initially meant "to allot" or "to distribute". Over time, the meaning of "assign" expanded to include the sense of "to give as a task" or "to delegate". By the 17th century, the term "assignment" emerged, referring to a task or duty given to someone. Today, an assignment can be a written piece of work, a project, or a task given to someone as part of their education, job, or other responsibilities. Despite its evolution, the core idea of assigning something to someone remains the same as it was in the 14th century.