trial; attempt; essay.-examination and determination; test; as, an assay of bread or wine.-trial by danger or by affliction; adventure; risk; hardship; state of being tried.-tested purity or value.-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.-the alloy or metal to be assayed.-to try; to attempt; to apply.-to affect.-to try tasting, as food or drink.-to subject, as an ore, alloy, or other metallic compound, to chemical or metallurgical examination, in order to determine the amount of a particular metal contained in it, or to ascertain its composition.-to attempt, try, or endeavor.