Assáy, subst. (in Sonn. 110, 8 and Lr. I, 2, 47 essay) 1) examination, probation, trial: “only he hath made an a. of her virtue,” Meas. III, 1, 164. “and worse --s proved thee my best of love,” Sonn. 110, 8. “with windlasses and with --s of bias,” Hml. II, 1, 65. “he wrote this but as an e. or taste of my virtue,” Lr. I, 2, 47. “this cannot be, by no a. of reason,” Oth. I, 3, 18.
2) attempt, trial: “after many accents and delays, untimely breathings, sick and short --s,” Lucr. 1720. “let us make the a. upon him,” Tim. IV, 3, 406. “their malady convinces the great a. of art,” Mcb. IV, 3, 143. “make a.” Hml. III, 3, 69. Hostile attempt, attack: “galling the gleaned land with hot --s,” H5 I, 2, 151. “never more to give the a. of arms against your majesty,” Hml. II, 2, 71.
Shakespeare Lexicon. Alexander Schmidt. Berlin. Georg Reimer. 1902.
This text was converted to electronic form by professional data entry and has been proofread to a high level of accuracy.
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