assay sb. (cf. the vb.; 3 was in use down to 1700)
1.
trial, test Meas. III. i. 162, Tim. IV. iii. 408,
Ham. II. i. 65
“with assays of
bias,”
Oth. I. iii. 18
“By no assay of
reason.”
2.
effort
Mac. IV. iii. 143
“The great assay of
art.”
3.
attack, assault H5 I. ii. 151 (“essays”†),
Ham. II. ii. 71
“To give the assay of
arms.”
