Forms: 4–5 pl. testes, -is, 6 teste, taest, 7 tast, teast, 6– test, [a. OF. test masc., a pot (12th c.), mod. F. têt a cupel, etc.:—L. testum, testu neut., collateral form of testa a tile, earthen vessel, pot. In OF. test and teste (L. testa) were sometimes confused, and teste sometimes occurs in 15–16th c. Eng. In modern use, treated mainly as noun of action from TEST v.2]
1. orig. The cupel used in treating gold or silver alloys or ore; now esp. the cupel, with the iron frame or basket which contains it, forming the movable hearth of a reverberatory furnace: see CUPEL sb. 1.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 265. Of oure siluer citrinacion … Oure yngottes testes and many mo.
1552. in P. H. Hore, Wexford (1901), II. 237. Of 1031 lbs. weight of lead they had from the taest 14 lbs. weight of silver.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind., VI. 339. Meltynge it [gold] in a fornace in a bayne or teste of leade.
1594. Plat, Jewell-ho., III. 36. Get a large panne, such as they make their testes of bone ashes in.
1622. Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 281. The Copple or Teast doth drinke in some two penny weight of Siluer with the Lead.
1674. Ray, Collect. Wds., Smelting Silver (E. D. S.), 9. The test is of an oval figure, and occupies all the bottom of the furnace.
1758. Reid, trans. Macquer’s Chym., I. 315. Put one half of this Lead into a test, and spread it equally thereon.
1853. Ure, Dict. Arts, II. 657. The bed or bottom of the furnace, when in operation, is formed by a shallow elliptical vessel, called a test or test-bottom.
1877. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2535/2. The test is fixed as a cupeling-hearth in the reverberatory furnace.
2. That by which the existence, quality, or genuineness of anything is or may be determined; ‘means of trial’ (J.); hence, in phrases to bring or put to the test, to bear or stand the test, the testing or trial of the quality of anything; examination, trial, proof.
(Cf. 1651. French, Distill., v. 138. Prove this tree at the test, and it yeeldeth good gold.
1661. Blount, Glossogr. (ed. 2), s.v., A broad instrument … on which Refiners do fine, refine and part gold and silver from other Mettals, or (as we use to say) put them to the Test.)
1594. Nashe, Unfort. Trav., 40. A delicate wench … which I would faine haue had to the grand test, whether she were cunning in Alcumie or no.
1602. Shaks., Ham., III. iv. 142. It is not madnesse That I have vttered; bring me to the Test. Ibid. (1610), Temp., IV. i. 7. Thou Hast strangely stood the test.
1754. Chatham, Lett. Nephew, iv. 25. The noblest sentiment of the human breast is here brought to the test.
1813. Sir H. Davy, Agric. Chem. (1814), 11. Simple tests of the relative nourishing powers of the different species of food.
1820. W. Irving, Sketch Bk., II. 148. Invaluable maxims which have borne the test of time.
1838. G. P. R. James, Robber, iv. I will not put them to the test.
1873. Symonds, Grk. Poets, iii. 89. Time, says Theognis, and experience and calamity are the true tests of friendship.
1904. Nicholson, Keltic Researches, Pref. 4. Even as between the Irishman and the Welshman, the language-test is not a race-test.
† b. A proof, sample, specimen. Obs. rare.
1769. Cook, Voy. round World, II. iii. (1773), II. 328. Rather satisfied with having given a test of their courage by twice insulting a vessel so much superior to their own, than intimidated by the shot.
c. Cricket. Short for test-match: see 7 b.
1908. Westm. Gaz., 16 Jan., 7/1. England is now a game to the bad, and there are only two more ‘Tests’ to play. Ibid. (1909), 6 Sept., 10/4. We are to play sixteen matches in all, including five Tests.
3. That by which beliefs or opinions, esp. in religion, are tested or tried; spec. the oaths or declarations prescribed by the TEST ACT of 1673; esp. in phrase to take the test; also, either of the test acts.
1665. Sp. Speaker Ho. Comm. to King, 31 Oct., in Lords Jrnls., XI. 700/1. We have prepared a Shiboleth a Test to distinguish amongst them, who … give Hopes of future Conformity, and who of … evil Disposition remain obdurate.
1672–3. (Mar. 12) in Grey’s Deb. Ho. Comm., II. 97. [Mr. Harwood] Tendered a proviso for renouncing the doctrine of transubstantiation for a farther test.
1675. (May 10) Calr. St. Papers, Dom., Chas. II., 112. The Test as now agreed on:—I, A. B., do declare [etc.].
1682. in Scott. Antiq., July (1901), 4. One of the late regentis … having demurred to take the test apoynted by act of parliament.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time, an. 1685 IV. (1724), I. 654. The King … had declared that he would be served by none but those who would vote for the repeal of the Tests.
1789. Constitution U.S., Art. vi. No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office.
1797. J. Hey, Lect. Div., II. III. xiv. § 15. 155. A Man is deemed a Member of the Church of England, who takes the Sacrament according to the usage of the Church of England, and declares against Transubstantiation; from whence the Tests are called sacramental tests.
1889. Pall Mall G., 3 July, 2/2. The Government promised last night to abolish tests in the case of the ‘lay chairs’ in the Scotch universities.
1906. H. Paul, in 19th Cent., May, 717. The belief in tests ought to be as dead as the belief in witches.
4. a. Chem. The action or process of examining a substance under known conditions in order to determine its identity or that of one of its constituents; also, a substance by means of which this may be done.
1800. Henry, Epit. Chem. (1808), 322. The readiest method of judging of the contents of natural waters, is by applying what are termed tests, or re-agents.
1812. [see REAGENT 1].
1854. J. Scoffern, in Orr’s Circ. Sc., Chem., 479. Arseniuretted hydrogen … employed, as a means of removing and discovering arsenic, is called Marsh’s test.
1900. Briggs & Stewart, Inorg. Chem., Gen. Direct. The student is advised to learn the tests for each metal and acid.
1900. Shenstone, Elem. Inorg. Chem., xxv. § 396. A solution of baryta affords us a most delicate test for carbon dioxide.
b. Mechanics, etc. The action by which the physical properties of substances, materials, machines, etc., are tested, in order to determine their ability to satisfy particular requirements.
Among these are bending test, compressive t., drop t., tensile t., transverse t., etc.; also with sb. in objective relation, as boiler, brake, engine test.
1877. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2539. Observations are made at short intervals … until the test is closed by rapid heating … and excessive increase of friction. Ibid. (1884), Suppl., 888. The machine requires but little change for making tests in compression.
1894. Lineham, Mech. Engin., 376. The straining cylinder, having water admitted beneath its piston for tensile, and above it for compressive tests.
1904. Kent’s Mech. Engin. Packet Bk. (1910), 282. In Transverse tests the strength of bars of rectangular section is found to vary directly the breadth of the specimen tested, as the square of its depth, and inversely as its length. Ibid., 864. Competitive tests were made of fourteen boilers.
5. Microsc. A test object: see 7 b.
1832. Goring, in Pritchard, Microsc. Cabinet, xviii. 175. A test is an object which serves to render sensible both the perfection and imperfection of an instrument, as to defining and penetrating power.
1837. Goring & Pritchard, Microgr., 160. A … representation of an excellent and very beautiful test, a feather from the wing of Morpho Menelaüs, (being the first object in which I observed the very remarkable property of the lines as tests).
6. An apparatus for determining the flash-point of hydrocarbon oils.
1877. Knight, Dict. Mech., Test,… 4. An apparatus for proving petroleum and similar hydrocarbon oils by ascertaining the temperature at which they evolve explosive vapours.
7. attrib. and Comb. a. General combs.: ‘of or pertaining to a test’; ‘taken, done, or made as a test’; as, in sense 2, test-bar, -ground, -log (LOG sb.1 6), -piece, -pit, -plaster, question, -room, -run, symptom, -valve, -work; in sense 3, test-formula, -law, -man, -monger, -oath; also test-free, -ridden adjs.; in sense 4, test-bottle, -liquid, -liquor, -phial, -solution, -spoon, -stirrer.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 71. We pour into the *test bottle 2 thousandths of the decime solution of silver.
1890. Tablet, 5 July, 14. A *test-ground for the historian.
1687. Reasons to Move Protest. Dissenters, 3. You cannot say it is a Divine Law that requir’d the Parliament to make this *Test-Law…. To abolish the Test-Laws therefore is Lawful.
1862. Catal. Internat. Exhib., II. XIII. 12. Apparatus for centigrade testing,… preparation of the *test liquors.
1904. Electr. World & Engin., 9 Jan., 90 (Cent. Suppl.). A typical *test-log upon a 550-hp engine.
1693. Shadwell, Volunteers, III. i. A furious agitator and *test-man.
1687. Reasons for Repeal of Tests, 4. In the Year 1675 the same Test was set on Foot in Parliament, by the *Test-Mongers, with design to have made it more Extensive.
1715–16. in J. O. Payne, Eng. Cath. Nonjurors of 1715 (1885), 9. I cannot take the Test and Abjuration Oaths enjoined by Acts of Parliament.
1863. H. Cox, Instit., III. viii. 718. In consequence of his inability to take the test-oath.
1876. Preece & Sivewright, Telegraphy, 179. The electrical resistance of the wire … and the resistance of each *test-piece.
1909. Service for the King, May, 103. The heat is gauged by the potters … who place in the oven test-pieces of pottery, which can be drawn out.
1896. Mary H. Foote, in Atlantic Monthly, May, 606/2. Sinking *test-pits through layers of crusted consciousness into depths of fiery nature.
1897. Daily News, 19 Jan., 3/6. Continued movement of the front is manifested by the cracking of *test plaster put in the fractured groining … six months ago.
1867. Furniv. & Hales, Percy Folio, I. 247. The *test question put to the page before the assignation is disclosed.
1889. Pall Mall G., 3 July, 2/2. This is why … English *test-ridden Theology lags so much behind German.
1905. Westm. Gaz., 20 Sept., 8/1. The methods of the *test-room are being applied to the degree of moisture quicker methods involve.
1877. Raymond, Statist. Mines & Mining, 302. A *test-run made upon about three tons showed it to contain 51 ounces of silver and 41 per cent. of lead per ton.
1871. Garrod, Mat. Med. (ed. 3), 428. The volumetric solutions of nitrate of silver and of iodine are also made use of as *test-solutions for qualitative analysis.
1910. Westm. Gaz., 19 Jan., 4/2. She wanted to test the gas at the purifier … but found the *test-valve choked.
1895. Daily News, 19 Feb., 9/2. Service in relieving distress … by means of carefully-planned *test-work.
b. Special Combs.: test board (Electr.): see quot.; test-boiler, a boiler for testing fuel or steam-apparatus, or supplying steam-pressure for testing other boilers (Cent. Dict., Suppl., 1909); test-bottom, = sense 1; also, the cake of gold or silver formed in the bottom of a cupel; test-box (Telegr.), a box fitted with terminals through which the wires are led, for convenience in testing; test case (Law), a case, the decision of which is taken as determining that of a number of others in which the same question of law is involved; test-cock, (a) a valved cock for clearing a steam engine cylinder of water; (b) a tap through which a sample of fluid may be drawn for examination; (c) a tap by means of which the level of water in a boiler or the like may be ascertained; test-frame, the iron frame or basket in which a cupel is placed: see sense 1; test-furnace, a reverberatory refining furnace in which silver-bearing alloys are treated; also fig.; test-glass, a small cylindrical glass vessel for holding liquids while being tested; test-hole, a tap-hole in a furnace; test-lead, pure granulated lead used in silver assays (C. D., Suppl., 1909); test letter, (a) a letter sent as a test of the honesty of the messenger; (b) see test-type (C. D., Suppl., 1909); test-lines, the lines on a test-plate (Cassell’s Encycl. Dict., 1888); test-match (Cricket), one of a series of matches played as a test which is the better of two bodies of players (e.g., of England and Australia); test-meal, a meal of specified quantity and composition, given as a test of digestive power; test-meter, (a) a meter for testing the consumption of gas by burners; (b) a meter used as a standard by which others are tried (Funk’s Stand. Dict., 1895); test-mixer: see quot.; test object, (a) a minute object used as a test of the power of a microscope; (b) an object upon which a testing experiment is tried; test-paper, (a) a paper impregnated with a chemical solution that changes color in contact with certain other chemicals, and thus becomes a test of the presence of the latter; (b) U.S. a document produced in court in determining a question of handwriting (Webster, 1847); (c) a paper set beforehand to try whether a student is fit and ready for an examination; test-piece = test-specimen; test-plate, (a) a glass plate ruled with very fine lines, used in testing the power of microscope objectives (Knight, Dict. Mech., 1877); (b) a piece of pottery on which colors are tried before being used on the pieces to be decorated (Cent. Dict., 1891); (c) a slip of glass used in mixing test-solutions (Knight); test-pump, a force-pump used in testing pipes, cylinders, and the like; test-ring, (a) see quot.; (b) a ring-shaped piece of iron, etc., taken as a sample of the metal of which it is made (Cent. Dict., Suppl., 1909); test-roll, (a) a roll signed by those who have complied with a test or tests as prescribed by the various test acts; (b) the roll signed by a member of the House of Lords or Commons after having taken the oath or made the declaration required of him as such; test specimen, a piece of metal, etc., prepared for a mechanical test; test-type, letters of graduated sizes used by opticians in testing sight. Also TEST ACT, TEST-TUBE.
1902. T. O’C. Sloane, Stand. Electr. Dict., App., *Test Board, a board provided with switches or spring-jacks connected to separate lines, so that testing instruments may be readily connected to any particular line.
1853. *Test-bottom [see sense 1].
1869. Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc., XI. 92. A cake or test-bottom [of silver]…. Its weight was 4343 ounces Troy.
1876. Preece & Sivew., Telegraphy, 273. The wire is … put to earth at the *test-box there.
1895. Funk’s Stand. Dict., *Test-case.
1906. Daily News, 25 April, 9/1. Important charges of street betting, which were regarded by the police as test cases.
1877. Knight, Dict. Mech., *Test-cock (Steam-engine), a small cock fitted to the top or bottom of a cylinder for clearing it of water.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 1131. In forming the cupel, several layers of a mixture of moistened bone ashes, and fern ashes,… are put into the *test-frame.
1877. Knight, Dict. Mech., *Test-furnace, one form of refining furnace for treating argentiferous alloy.
1896. Godey’s Mag., Feb., 186/2. I don’t believe that the immortal Sara Bernhardt could have gone through the fierce test-furnace of this rôle more superbly.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., § 619. 285. On the top of a *test-glass.
1897. Daily News, 14 April, 7/5. The prisoner [a postman] was suspected. A *test letter was sent, and it was not delivered.
1899. Westm. Gaz., 27 June, 5/1. Not far below his big *test-match average. Ibid., 15 Aug., 5/3. Two test-match records were broken during the day.
1891. Cent. Dict., *Test-meal.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., III. 409. When the contents of the stomach are examined after a test-meal, the total acidity is found to be diminished.
1877. Knight, Dict. Mech., *Test-mixer, a tall cylindrical bottle … graduated into … equal parts…, and … used in preparing test-alkalies, test-acids, and similar solutions.
1830. Goring, Microscopical Illustr., 2. The difficulty of demonstrating many *test objects satisfactorily is very considerable.
1904. trans. Hueppe’s Etiology Infectious Diseases, iii. 27. Guinea-pigs are so susceptible that we use them as the best test-object of tuberculosis.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., § 584. 270. *Test papers are far more advantageous for use than liquids: two of them in general application … are litmus and turmeric papers.
1871. Garrod, Mat. Med. (ed. 3), 68. The solution is neutral or slightly alkaline to test-paper.
1877. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2537/2. The angle through which the *test-piece yielded before its fracture became complete.
1881. Raymond, Mining Gloss., *Test-ring, an oval iron frame for holding a test or movable cupelling-hearth.
1879. T. E. May, Parl. Practice (ed. 8), 204. So soon as a member has been sworn, he subscribes the oath which he has taken, in a book, at the table, commonly called the *‘test-roll’; and is then introduced to the Speaker by the clerk of the house.
1884. Ninth Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. 68/2. Certificate … Produced this day [17 Nov. 1675] on his taking the oaths and signing the Test Roll.
1894. Lineham, Mech. Engin., 378. Shackles for *Test Specimens should be carefully designed.
1890. Billings, Nat. Med. Dict., *Test types.
