assay

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: checktryseekattemptessay

WordNet 3.0

Noun (4)

  1. an appraisal of the state of affairs“they made an assay of the contents”“a check on its dependability under stress”Synonyms: check
  2. a substance that is undergoing an analysis of its components
  3. a written report of the results of an analysis of the composition of some substance
  4. 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.

Verb (2)

  1. analyze (chemical substances)
  2. make an effort or attempt“He tried to shake off his fears”“The infant had essayed a few wobbly steps”“The police attempted to stop the thief”“He sought to improve himself”“She always seeks to do good in the world”Synonyms: tryseekattemptessay
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Assay \As*say"\, n. [OF. asai, essai, trial, F. essa. See Essay, n.]

1.Trial; attempt; essay. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

I am withal persuaded that it may prove much more easy in the assay than it now seems at distance.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

2.Examination and determination; test; as, an assay of bread or wine. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

This can not be, by no assay of reason.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

3.Trial by danger or by affliction; adventure; risk; hardship; state of being tried. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Through many hard assays which did betide.— Spenser.[1913 Webster]

4.Tested purity or value. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

With gold and pearl of rich assay.— Spenser.[1913 Webster]

5.(Metallurgy) 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. [1913 Webster]

6.The alloy or metal to be assayed. --Ure. [1913 Webster]

Usage: Assay and essay are radically the same word; but modern usage has appropriated assay chiefly to experiments in metallurgy, and essay to intellectual and bodily efforts. See Essay. [1913 Webster]

Note: Assay is used adjectively or as the first part of a compound; as, assay balance, assay furnace. [1913 Webster]

Assay master, an officer who assays or tests gold or silver coin or bullion.

Assay ton, a weight of 29,1662/3 grams. [1913 Webster]

Assay \As*say"\, v. i. To attempt, try, or endeavor. [Archaic. In this sense essay is now commonly used.] [1913 Webster]

She thrice assayed to speak. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

Assay \As*say"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Assaying.] [OF. asaier, essaier, F. essayer, fr. essai. See Assay, n., Essay, v.]

1.To try; to attempt; to apply. [Obs. or Archaic] [1913 Webster]

To-night let us assay our plot.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
Soft words to his fierce passion she assayed.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

2.To affect. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

When the heart is ill assayed.— Spenser.[1913 Webster]

3.To try tasting, as food or drink. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

4.To subject, as an ore, alloy, or other metallic compound, to chemical or metallurgical examination, in order to determine the amount of a particular metal contained in it, or to ascertain its composition. [1913 Webster]

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