ASSAY
What does "ASSAY" mean?
A test of the composition, purity, or quality of a substance, especially metal or ore.
Meanings
- An analysis or test that determines the content, purity, or potency of something. The gold passed the assay at 22 karats. technical
- To analyze a substance to determine its components or quality. The lab assayed the ore for traces of silver. technical
- To attempt or try (a task or feat). He assayed the steep north face at first light. archaic
Did you know?
- 'Assay' and 'essay' are linguistic twins: both come from the Old French word for a 'trial' or 'attempt' - a written essay is literally an attempt at a subject.
Word origin
From Old French 'assai', a variant of 'essai' ('trial, attempt'), from Late Latin 'exagium' ('a weighing'); 'assay' and 'essay' are doublets that split from the same source.
Remember it
ASSAY is 'a SAY' on quality - it speaks up about what something truly is, after a test.
A little poem
Fire asks the metal what it's worth-
no claim survives the proving hearth.
couplet
What it teaches
Worth is what's left after the fire; assay the thing, not the label it came with.
Quick facts
What does ASSAY mean?
A test of the composition, purity, or quality of a substance, especially metal or ore.
Is ASSAY a valid word?
Yes — ASSAY is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is ASSAY?
ASSAY has 5 letters and 2 syllables.
Where does ASSAY come from?
From Old French 'assai', a variant of 'essai' ('trial, attempt'), from Late Latin 'exagium' ('a weighing'); 'assay' and 'essay' are doublets that split from the same source.
What can ASSAY teach us?
Worth is what's left after the fire; assay the thing, not the label it came with.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.