assay
/ˈæseɪ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.28 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
3
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Examination and determination; test.
noun
The qualitative or quantitative chemical analysis of something.
noun
Trial by danger or by affliction; adventure; risk; hardship; state of being tried.
noun
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.
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."
Etymology
From Middle English assay (noun) and assayen (verb), from Anglo-Norman assai (noun) and Anglo-Norman assaier (verb), from Old French essai. Doublet of essay.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Usage
Subject
Wiktionary places this term in Law.