I. ˈa-ˌsā, a-ˈsā noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French assai, essai — more at essay
Date: 14th century
1. archaic : trial , attempt
2. : examination and determination as to characteristics (as weight, measure, or quality)
3. : analysis (as of an ore or drug) to determine the presence, absence, or quantity of one or more components ; also : a test used in this analysis
4. : a substance to be assayed ; also : the tabulated result of assaying
II. a-ˈsā, ˈa-ˌsā verb
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1. : try , attempt
2.
a. : to analyze (as an ore) for one or more specific components
b. : to judge the worth of : estimate
intransitive verb
: to prove up in an assay
• as·say·er noun