Meaning

Trial, attempt..

Definitions by Sense

1. Trial, attempt.
2. Examination and determination; test.
3. The qualitative or quantitative chemical analysis of something.
4. Trial by danger or by affliction; adventure; risk; hardship; state of being tried.
5. Tested purity or value.
6. 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.
7. The alloy or metal to be assayed.
8. (transitive) To attempt (something).

Example Sentences

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

This cannot be, by no assay of reason.

Through many hard assayes which did betide.

Purfled with gold and pearl of rich assay.

To-night let us assay our plot.

Soft words to his fierce passion she assayed.

Who seest the stark array And hast not stayed to count But singly wilt assay The many-cannoned mount[…].

Speaking before a small crowd beneath antique airplanes suspended in the atrium of the State of Iowa Historical Museum, an effortfully cheerful Mr Romney assayed an early version of a stump speech I imagine will become a staple of his campaign for the Republican nomination, once it "officially" begins some time next week in New Hampshire.

Word Forms

• assays
• assaying
• assayed

Synonyms for assay

Related Words

When Should You Use Assay?

Use assay when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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