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overassess

 - 4 dictionary results

as⋅sess

  [uh-ses]
Use overassess in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to estimate officially the value of (property, income, etc.) as a basis for taxation.
2. to fix or determine the amount of (damages, a tax, a fine, etc.): The hurricane damage was assessed at six million dollars.
3. to impose a tax or other charge on.
4. to estimate or judge the value, character, etc., of; evaluate: to assess one's efforts.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME assessen < ML assessāre to assess a tax, deriv. of L assēssus seated beside (a judge) (ptp. of assidēre), equiv. to as- as- + sed- (s. of sedēre to sit ) + -tus ptp. suffix

Related forms:
as⋅sess⋅a⋅ble, adjective

Synonyms:
2. appraise, adjust. 4. appraise.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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o·ver·as·sess   (ō'vər-ə-sěs')   
tr.v.   o·ver·as·sessed, o·ver·as·sess·ing, o·ver·as·sess·es
To assess (property or a property owner) at too high a tax figure; overtax.
o'ver·as·sess'ment n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

assess 
1423, "to fix the amount (of a tax, fine, etc.)," from Anglo-Fr. assesser, from M.L. assessare "fix a tax upon," originally frequentative of L. assidere "to sit beside" (and thus to assist in the office of a judge), from ad- "to" + sedere "to sit." One of the judge's assistant's jobs was to fix the amount of a fine or tax. Meaning "to estimate the value of property for the purpose of taxing it" is from 1809; transf. sense of "to judge the value of a person, idea, etc." is from 1934.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: as·sess
Pronunciation: &-'ses
Function: transitive verb
1 : to determine the rate or amount of (as a tax)
2 a : to impose (as a tax) according to an established rate b : to subject to a tax, charge, or levy assessed an additional five dollars>
3 : to make an official valuation of (property) for the purposes of taxation —as·sess·able /&-'se-s&-b&l/ adjective —as·sess·ment noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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