Webster's English Dictionary

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assay

1. as.say \'as-.a-, a-'sa-\ n [ME, fr. OF essai, assai test, effort - more 
   at ESSAY] archaic  1: TRIAL, ATTEMPT  2: examination and determination as 
   to characteristics (as weight, measure,  quality) 3: analysis (as of an ore 
   or drug) to determine the presence, absence, or q uantity of one or more 
   components 4: a substance to be assayed; also : the tabulated result of 
   assayi ng
2. as.say \a-'sa-, 'as-.a-\ vt 1: TRY, ATTEMPT  2a: to analyze (as an ore) 
   for one or more valuable components  2b: ESTIMATE  : to prove up in an 
   assay  - as.say.er n