assent

Everyday

1. (formal) Agreement or permission, especially official agreement. tree →
2. (verb, formal) To agree to something. tree →
3. (law, UK) Royal Assent: the monarch's official approval that turns a bill into a law. tree →

In the lessons

A formal word in history, law and exam texts. In stories it shows someone agreeing, often with a nod. In UK citizenship lessons, a bill gets Royal Assent to become an Act. Phrases: give assent, nod of assent, Royal Assent, assent to.

Examples

• She nodded her assent. tree →
• The bill received Royal Assent and became law. tree →
• The head teacher gave her assent to the plan. tree →
• Everyone assented to the new rules of the game. tree →
• Without his parents' assent, he could not join the trip. tree →
• The king assented to the treaty. tree →
• A murmur of assent went round the room. tree →
• The Lion cheerfully assented to the proposal. tree →

Note

Formal; plain word: agreement, agree. Homophone trap: assent (agreement) sounds like ascent (going up, a climb). Opposite: dissent. Usually "assent to" something.