King James Bible Dictionary

ASSA'Y, noun [Latin sequor; assequor, to follow, to examine. See Essay.]

1. The trial of the goodness, purity, weight, value, etc. of metals or metallic substances. Any operation or experiement for ascertaining the quantity of a precious metal in an ore or mineral. Analysis is a term of more comprehensive import, extending to an examination of the nature and quantities of all parts of the compound.

2. In law, an examination of weights and measures by the standard.

3. Examination; trial; effort; first entrance upon any business; attempt. In these senses, which are found in old authors, now rarely used. [See Essay.]

4. Value; great purity. obsolete

ASSA'Y, verb transitive

1. To try or prove, by examination or experiment, the quantity and purity of metallic substances.

2. To apply to the touchstone.

ASSA'Y, verb intransitive To attempt, try or endeavor.

He assayed to go. 1 Samuel 17:39.

[In this sense essay is now used.]

ASSAY-BALANCE, noun A balance for the trial of the weight and purity of metals.

ASSA'YED, participle passive Examined; tested; proved by experiment.

ASSA'YER, noun One who examines metals to find their quantity and purity. An officer of the mint, whose business is to try the weight and purity of metals.

ASSA'YING, participle present tense Trying by some standard; examining by experiment, as metals; proving; attempting.

ASSAY-MASTER, noun An assayer; an officer appointed to try the weight and fineness of the precious metals.