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Assay

//ˈæseɪ// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Trial, attempt.

    "I am withal persuaded that it may prove much more easy in the assay than it now seems at distance."

  2. 2
    a quantitative or qualitative test of a substance (especially an ore or a drug) to determine its components; frequently used to test for the presence or concentration of infectious agents or antibodies etc. wordnet
  3. 3
    Examination and determination; test.

    "This cannot be, by no assay of reason."

  4. 4
    an appraisal of the state of affairs wordnet
  5. 5
    The qualitative or quantitative chemical analysis of something.
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  1. 6
    a written report of the results of an analysis of the composition of some substance wordnet
  2. 7
    Trial by danger or by affliction; adventure; risk; hardship; state of being tried.

    "Through many hard assayes which did betide."

  3. 8
    a substance that is undergoing an analysis of its components wordnet
  4. 9
    Tested purity or value.

    "Purfled with gold and pearl of rich assay."

  5. 10
    The act or process of ascertaining the proportion of a particular metal in an ore or alloy; especially, the determination of the proportion of gold or silver in bullion or coin.
  6. 11
    The alloy or metal to be assayed.
Verb
  1. 1
    To attempt (something). transitive

    "To-night let us assay our plot."

  2. 2
    analyze (chemical substances) wordnet
  3. 3
    To try, attempt (to do something). archaic, intransitive

    "When Saul cam to Jerusalem he assayde to cople hymsilfe with the apostles, and they wer all afrayde of hym and beleved not that he was a disciple."

  4. 4
    make an effort or attempt wordnet
  5. 5
    To analyze or estimate the composition or value of (a metal, ore etc.). transitive
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  1. 6
    To test the abilities of (someone) in combat; to fight. obsolete, transitive

    "I wold not by my wille that ony of vs were matched with hym Nay said sir Gawayne not so it were shame to vs were he not assayed were he neuer soo good a knyghte"

  2. 7
    To affect.

    "when the heart is ill assay'd"

  3. 8
    To try tasting, as food or drink.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English assay (noun) and assayen (verb), from Anglo-Norman assai (noun) and Anglo-Norman assaier (verb), from Old French essai. Doublet of essay.

Etymology 2

From Middle English assay (noun) and assayen (verb), from Anglo-Norman assai (noun) and Anglo-Norman assaier (verb), from Old French essai. Doublet of essay.

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