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   assay

   /əˈseɪ/

   noun

   • 1. the testing of a metal or ore to determine its ingredients and quality: "submission of plate for assay"
   • ▪ a procedure for measuring the biochemical or immunological activity of a sample: "each assay was performed in duplicate"

   verb

   • 1. determine the content or quality of (a metal or ore): "the man who assayed gold was more than a technician"
   • ▪ determine the biochemical or immunological activity of (a sample): "cell contents were assayed for enzyme activity"
   • ▪ examine (something) in order to assess its nature: "stepping inside, I quickly assayed the clientele"
   • 2. attempt: archaic "I assayed a little joke of mine on him"

   Word Origin Middle English (in the general sense ‘testing, or a test of, the merit of someone or something’): from Old French assai (noun), assaier (verb), variant of essai ‘trial’, essayer ‘to try’ (see essay).

   Derivatives

   • 1. assayer noun

   Scrabble Points: 8

   • A

     1

   • S

     1

   • S

     1

   • A

     1

   • Y

     4

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