assay

== English == === Etymology === 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. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈæseɪ/, /əˈseɪ/ Rhymes: -eɪ === Noun === assay (plural assays) Trial, attempt. Examination and determination; test. The qualitative or quantitative chemical analysis of something. Trial by danger or by affliction; adventure; risk; hardship; state of being tried. Tested purity or value. 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. The alloy or metal to be assayed. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === assay (third-person singular simple present assays, present participle assaying, simple past and past participle assayed) (transitive) To attempt (something). [from 14th c.] 1936, Alfred Edward Housman, More Poems, IV, The Sage to the Young Man, ll.5-8: (archaic, intransitive) To try, attempt (to do something). [14th–19th c.] (transitive) To analyze or estimate the composition or value of (a metal, ore etc.). [from 15th c.] (obsolete, transitive) To test the abilities of (someone) in combat; to fight. [15th–17th c.] To affect. To try tasting, as food or drink. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === assay on Wikipedia.Wikipedia === Anagrams === Yassa, Asays, sayas == Middle English == === Etymology 1 === Borrowed from Anglo-Norman assai, from Late Latin exagium. ==== Alternative forms ==== assai, assaie, asaie, assaye, asay, say, sai ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /aˈsæi̯/, /ˈasæi̯/, /sæi̯/ Rhymes: -æi̯ ==== Noun ==== assay (plural assayes) Examining; investigation, looking into, research: Trialling, assaying; the ensuring of quality (usually of a substance, but also of a document) The trial or testing of one's personality or personal qualities. An attack (as a trial of one's mettle or ability on the battlefield) The trialling of comestibles or nourishments (mostly in ceremony) A try or effort towards something. (rare) Facts in support in assertion; evidence. (rare) One's personality; the nature of something or someone. (rare) A deed, action or doing; an endeavour or business. ===== Derived terms ===== assayen assayour assaynge ===== Descendants ===== English: assay, say Scots: assay, say, sey ===== References ===== “assai, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 17 July 2018. “sai, n.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 17 July 2018. === Etymology 2 === ==== Verb ==== assay alternative form of assayen