Ăs-sĭ-ĕnʹto, n.

n. [Sp. assiento, asiento, seat, contract or agreement, from assentar, to place on a chair, to adjust, to make an agreement; It. assentare, O. Fr. assenter, from ad and Sp., Pg., & Pr. sentar, It. sentare, a participial verb, Lat., as if sedentare, to cause to sit, from sedens, sedentis, p. pr. of sedēre, to sit.] A contract or convention between the king of Spain and other powers for furnishing slaves for the Spanish dominions in America.