1. trans. To put to the proof, try (a person or thing); to test the nature, excellence, fitness, etc., of; = ASSAY v. 1. Also to practise (an art, etc.) by way of trial; = ASSAY 8.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, G ij b. I wold also ye knew the tale of the Squyer whiche essayed his wyf.
1593. Prodigal Son, I. 92. It is a fine thing for a young man who goes to essay the world, to travel and see much.
1738. Glover, Leonidas, II. 436. None more willing to essay thy force.
a. 1744. Pope, Epistle, v. She … No arts essay’d, but not to be admir’d.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 109. A youth whose great powers, first essayed in this conflict [etc.].
1856. Mrs. Stowe, Dred, II. xxxiii. 326. The last boat was essayed.
† b. with object clause. Obs.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 376/4. Willyam … wold preue and essaye yf there were ony elacion … in his corage.
1684. R. Berkeley, in Evelyn, Mem. (1857), III. 273. It would be soon essayed with Mr. Boyle’s pump whether or no it may give such a vacuum as to preserve fruit and flowers in their natural.
† 2. To test the composition of (an ore, metal, salt, etc.) by chemical means; = ASSAY 4. Obs.
1691. Locke, Lower. Interest, Wks. 1727, II. 94. Whether … Goldsmiths … will not take what is by the free Labour of the Mint ready essay’d and adjusted to their Use. Ibid. (1695), Further Consid. Value Money, 7 (J.). The Standard in our Mint being now settled,… the rules and methods of Essaying suited to it;… should remain unvariable.
1739. Joe Miller’s Jests, No. 207. The seven Golden Candlesticks were sent to be essay’d in the Tower.
1876. Accum, Chem. Tests (1818), 93. The salt to be essayed is covered with sulphuric acid.
† 3. To try by tasting; = ASSAY 5. Obs.
1598. Yong, Diana, 164.
| Of Cupids daintie cates who hath not prayed, | |
| May be depriued of them at his pleasure: | |
| If wormewood in his drinke he hath essaied, | |
| Let him not quench his thirsting without measure. |
4. To attempt; to try to do, effect, accomplish or make (anything difficult); = ASSAY 16.
1641. R. Brooke, Eng. Episc., II. vi. 97. In our Gracious Kings Reigne, they have … essay’d many Soule-Schismes.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1662), I. 129. He also … directed the standers by to fetch him a great hollow-stone for a font, which sundry of his father’s servants essayed in vain.
1712. Blackmore, Creation, I. 14. While I this unexampled Task essay.
1805. Wordsw., Waggoner, I. 99. And now the conqueror essays The long ascent of Dunmail-raise.
1876. Lowell, Among my Bks., Ser. II. (1873), 257. His method leads to most unhappy results when essayed by men to whom nature has denied a sense of what the picturesque really is.
1882. A. W. Ward, Dickens, vii. 213. He never even essayed the picture of an artist devoted to art for her own sake.
† b. To attempt to show or prove. Obs.
1656. [? J. Sergeant], trans. T. White’s Peripat. Inst., 337 (title), A Theologicall Appendix … Wherein ’tis essay’d how subservient Philosophy is to Divinity.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 194. The worthy Doctor More has suprizingly essay’d the infinity or boundless manifoldness of worlds from the Head of lightsomness.
5. with inf. To set oneself, undertake, try (to do something). Also absol.; = SSAY 17.
c. 1530. Hickscorner, in Hazl., Dodsley, I. 181. Therefore in thy conceit essay To axe God mercy.
1641. Milton, Ch. Govt., Wks. 1738, I. 40. This I shall essay to prove, can be no other than that of Presbyters and Deacons.
a. 1762. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., 1. xxxvii. 143. Apelles is said to have essayed, by a collection of the most exact features, to form a perfect face.
1781. Cowper, Table Talk, 182. Not Brindley nor Bridgewater would essay, To turn the course of Helicon that way.
1820. Scott, Monast., I. 211. I will essay, reverend Father.
1879. M. Arnold, Ess., Fr. Crit. on Goethe, 276. So dense is the cloud of error here that the lover of truth will hardly even essay to dissipate it.
6. intr. To make an attempt.
1715. M. Davies, Athen. Brit., I. 233. Doctor Bray has lately essay’d with a large scope towards a more Comprehensive Martyrologe.
