ASSAY

[as.say] n [ME, fr. OF essai, assai test, effort--more at essay] (14c) 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

4: a substance to be assayed; also: the tabulated result of assaying

[2]as.say vt (14c) 1: try, attempt

2. a: to analyze (as an ore) for one or more specific components b: to judge the worth of: estimate ~ vi: to prove up in an assay -- as.say.er n