in a general sense, the same as Assignment.

in a particular sense, denotes a pension or salary given by great lords and princes to persons of worth and parts, in order to retain them in their service. The term is chiefly used among the French. The king of France gave large appointments to several of the officers in his service. Appointments differ from wages, in that the latter are fixed and ordinary, being paid by the ordinary treasurers; whereas appointments are annual gratifications granted by brevet for a time uncertain, and are paid out of the privy purse.