Definition

A legal term referring to a type of agreement or promise that can be enforced in court, typically not written under seal.

Example

The plaintiff filed an assumpsit to recover damages for the breach of contract.

Conversation

I was reading about contracts and came across the term assumpsit.

Oh really? What does it mean?

It's a legal action for recovering damages when someone breaches an agreement, like a contract.

That makes sense! It's interesting how many different types of agreements there are.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Assumpsit is derived from the Latin "assumere" (meaning to take up or adopt) and the suffix "-it" (a form indicating a completed action). The term originally referred to a legal action based on a promise or agreement, indicating that one party has taken up an obligation to another.

Memory Tip

Think of 'taking up' a promise or obligation — that's what assumpsit means in a legal context.

Visually Confused Words