Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - assess

 transitive verb  Etymology: Middle English, probably from Medieval Latin ~us, past participle of assidere, from Latin, to sit beside, assist in the office of a judge — more at assize  Date: 15th century  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  3. to make an official valuation of (property) for the purposes of taxation  4. to determine the importance, size, or value of ~ a problem  5. to charge (a player or team) with a foul or penalty  Synonyms: see estimate  • ~able adjective