ppl. a. Often tried or tested with good result; thoroughly tried.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., III. vi. 312. Neither bi eny sufficient euydence of Holi Scripture or of other special and peculiar sure weel tried reuelacioun.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. x. 40. [They] ransackt Greece well tryde, when they were wroth.
a. 1631. Donne, Eleg., xiv. 60. The bright Signe of a lov’d and wel-try’d Inne.
1670. Eachard, Cont. Clery, 33. Physick … is made up of severe reason, and well-tryed experiments.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XVI. 263. Thy well-try’d wisdom, and thy martial fame.
1784. Cowper, Task, I. 148. Love, Confirm’d by long experience of thy worth And well-tried virtues.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxxviii. A well-tried friend has appointed to meet me in this neighbourhood.
1856. Kane, Arctic Expl., II. i. 20. Our sledge then is made of well-tried oak.
