assumpsit

[ uh-suhmp-sit ]

/ əˈsʌmp sɪt /

a legal action for a breach of contract or promise not under seal.

an actionable promise.

Origin of assumpsit

1605–15; < Latin: he has taken upon himself, he has undertaken

Afterwards the master promised to indemnify the bail, and on his failure to do so was sued by him in assumpsit.

The Common Law |Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
It was settled that assumpsit would lie for a mere omission or nonfeasance.

The Common Law |Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
It has been shown above that if a man was a common farrier he could be charged for negligence without an assumpsit.

The Common Law |Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
One of the earliest references to what a promisor was to have for his undertaking was in the action of assumpsit.

The Common Law |Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

The first case in assumpsit /3/ only meant to adopt this long familiar thought.

The Common Law |Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

assumpsit

/ (əˈsʌmpsɪt) /

law (before 1875) an action to recover damages for breach of an express or implied contract or agreement that was not under seal

C17: from Latin, literally: he has undertaken, from assūmere to assume