Obs. Forms: 3–5 trie, 4 tri, triȝe, 4–6 trye, 5, 7 try. [ME. trie, etc., prob. a. OF. trié, pa. pple. of trier to pick out, cull, select (see TRY v.), or OF. trie sb. choice, ‘élite,’ used attrib.]
1. Choice, excellent, good; = TRIED ppl. a. 2.
a. 1300. Sat. People Kildare, xiv., in E. E. P. (1862), 155. Worþ hit wer þat he werking Þat ditid þis trie þing.
c. 1315. Shoreham, I. 1575. By-tuixe god and holy folk Loue hys wel trye and ryche.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. I. 135. Treuthe is tresore þe triest [v.rr. trieste, tryest, triȝest] on erþe.
c. 1425. Cast. Persev., 536, in Macro Plays, 93. He schal be serwaunt good & try.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. ii. 26. Those hands of gold,… those feete of silver trye.
2. Joinery. Quite true, correctly wrought: cf. TRY sb. 3, v. 8.
1678. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., vi. 101. If they can see light between the edge of the Rule and their Work: If they cannot they conclude their work is Try, and well wrought.
Hence † Tryly, triely adv. Obs., choicely, excellently, finely.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 1228. Triliche was he a-tired in ful tristy armes. Ibid., 3198. Tvo baþes were boun by a litel while, & a-tired tryli to trusty trewe lordes.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. Prol. 14. I seigh a toure on a toft trielich ymaked.
