Assay
Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
Definition:
- Verb: To analyze or examine something to determine its composition or quality.
- Noun: An analysis or examination of something, especially a substance, to determine its composition or quality.
Pronunciations:
Origin and Usage:
The verb "assay" comes from the Old French word "assaier," which means "to try." It was originally used in the sense of "to try or test the quality of something." The noun form of the word was first recorded in the 14th century, and it was used to describe the process of testing the purity of metals, particularly gold and silver. Over time, the meaning of the word broadened to include the testing of other substances, as well as the analysis of data and other information.
Synonyms:
- Analyze
- Examine
- Test
- Evaluate
- Scrutinize
Related Words:
- Essay
- Sassy
- Salsa
- Massy
- Asset
Example Sentences:
- He had to assay the quality of the gold before he could sell it.
- The lab is currently conducting an assay of the new drug to determine its effectiveness.
- The assay showed that the sample contained high levels of lead.
- She spent hours assaying the data to find any patterns or trends.
- The professor asked the students to assay the arguments made in the article.