try

Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Origin: OE. trien to select, pick out, F. trier to cull, to out, LL. tritare to triturate (hence the sense of, to thresh, to separate the grain from the straw, to select), L. terere, tritum, to rub, bruise, grind, thresh. See Trite.

1. To divide or separate, as one sort from another; to winnow; to sift; to pick out; — frequently followed by out; as, to try out the wild corn from the good. obsolete Sir Thomas Elyot

2. To purify or refine, as metals; to melt out, and procure in a pure state, as oil, tallow, lard, etc. William Shakespeare

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.— Ps. xii. 6.

For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.— Ps. lxvi. 10.

3. To prove by experiment; to apply a test to, for the purpose of determining the quality; to examine; to prove; to test; as, to try weights or measures by a standard; to try a man's opinions.

Let the end try the man.— William Shakespeare

4. To subject to severe trial; to put to the test; to cause suffering or trouble to.

Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleased.— John Milton

These are the times that try men's souls.— Thomas Paine (1776)

5. To experiment with; to test by use; as, to try a remedy for disease; to try a horse.

Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me.— William Shakespeare

To ease her cares the force of sleep she tries.— Jonathan Swift

6. To strain; to subject to excessive tests; as, the light tries his eyes; repeated disappointments try one's patience.

7. Law To examine or investigate judicially; to examine by witnesses or other judicial evidence and the principles of law; as, to try a cause, or a criminal.

8. To settle; to decide; to determine; specifically, to decide by an appeal to arms; as, to try rival claims by a duel; to try conclusions.

Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried.— William Shakespeare

9. To experience; to have or gain knowledge of by experience. John Milton

Or try the Libyan heat or Scythian cold.— John Dryden

10. To essay; to attempt; to endeavor.

Let us try... to found a path.— John Milton

To try on. (a) To put on, as a garment, to ascertain whether it fits the person. (b) To attempt; to undertake. slang Charles Dickens

Synonyms: To attempt; endeavor; strive; aim; examine. — Try, Attempt. To try is the generic, to attempt is the specific, term. When we try, we are usually uncertain as to success; when we attempt, we have always some definite object in view which we seek to accomplish. We may be indifferent as to the result of a trial, but we rarely attempt anything without a desire to succeed.

He first deceased: she for a little tried To live without him; liked it not, and died.— Sir Henry Wotton

Alack, I am afraid they have a waked, And 't is not done. The attempt, and not the deed, Confounds us.— William Shakespeare

1. To exert strength; to endeavor; to make an effort or an attempt; as, you must try hard if you wish to learn.

2. To do; to fare; as, how do you try! dialect (England)

1. A screen, or sieve, for grain. Obs. or Prov. Eng. Philemon Holland

2. Act of trying; attempt; experiment; trial.

This breaking of his has been but a try for his friends.— William Shakespeare

3. In Rugby and Northern Union football, a score (counting three points) made by grounding the ball on or behind the opponent's goal line; — so called because it entitles the side making it to a place kick for a goal (counting two points more if successful).

Origin: Cf. Try, transitive verb

Refined; select; excellent; choice. obsolete “Sugar that is try.” Geoffrey Chaucer

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: 1913 supplement, GCIDE editors