As*sess"ment (&?;), n. [LL.
assessamentum.] 1. The act of assessing; the
act of determining an amount to be paid; as, an assessment of
damages, or of taxes; an assessment of the members of a
club.
2. A valuation of property or profits of business,
for the purpose of taxation; such valuation and an adjudging of the proper
sum to be levied on the property; as, an assessment of property or
an assessment on property.
&fist; An assessment is a valuation made by authorized persons
according to their discretion, as opposed to a sum certain or determined by
law. It is a valuation of the property of those who are to pay the tax, for
the purpose of fixing the proportion which each man shall pay.
Blackstone. Burrill.
3. The specific sum levied or assessed.
4. An apportionment of a subscription for stock
into successive installments; also, one of these installments (in England
termed a "call"). [U. S.]
