assays
|as-say|
/əˈseɪ, ˈæs.eɪ/
(assay)
test; try
Etymology
'assay' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'essai' / 'assai', where 'essai' meant 'trial' or 'test'.
'assay' changed from Old French words such as 'assaier'/'essai' and passed into Anglo-Norman and Middle English as 'assaien' or 'assaie', eventually becoming the modern English word 'assay'.
Initially, it meant 'trial' or 'test' in a general sense; over time it developed the more specific modern senses of 'to test/analyze (especially for composition or purity)' and retained the secondary sense 'to attempt'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
analytical tests or examinations performed to determine the content, quality, or purity of a substance (especially metals or ores).
The lab ran several assays to determine the metal content of the samples.
Synonyms
Noun 2
results or records of such tests; reports of analysis.
The assays showed varying levels of purity across the batch.
Synonyms
Verb 1
(third person singular) To examine or analyze (a substance) to determine its composition or quality.
The chemist assays each sample for traces of contamination.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/01 13:30