1. evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of: "the committee must assess the relative importance of the issues"Similarevaluatejudgegaugerateestimateappraiseform an opinion ofcheck outform an impression ofmake up one's mind aboutget the measure ofdetermineweigh upanalyseinformal:size up
▪ set the value of a tax, fine, etc., for (a person or property) at a specified level:"all empty properties will be assessed at 50 per cent"
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French assesser, based on Latin assidere ‘sit by’ (in medieval Latin ‘levy tax’), from ad- ‘to, at’ + sedere ‘sit’. Compare with assize.