was essayed sentence

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When to use "essay" vs "assay" (as a verb)?

By the dictionary definition as a verb, I can see that essay and assay have the same meaning, i.e. "make an effort or attempt".

I'm wondering if they are totally interchangeable, or is there a difference in degree associated with each?

• differences
• confusables

3 Answers 3

The modern meanings for essay and assay are almost unrelated. One essays a difficult task; one assays an ore or other material to objectively measure its value. A essayist is a writer; an assayer is a metallurgist.

Both have the same root, the French essai (trial). As verbs with the meaning of “attempt or try”, the New Oxford American Dictionary marks essay as “formal”, and assay as “archaic”. Apart from that, they are synonymous (and both antiquated) .

Edit: regarding modern synonyms of this meaning, one would now say attempt or try . Other synonyms are endeavour , seek , undertake or have a go at .

• 1 If both are antiquated, what would be the apt word to be used today ? –  TCSGrad Commented May 8, 2011 at 16:33
• “attempt or try” –  tenfour Commented May 8, 2011 at 18:32
• 1 The verb assay is still commonly used in medicine: medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=8412 –  splicer Commented May 8, 2011 at 21:15

The noun "assay" occurs in science, such as a "sequence assay", and scientists often verb such nouns (for example the verb "sequence", such as "we sequenced the human genome").

If you're talking about the verbed noun "assay", then it isn't interchangeable with "essay".

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Essayed Sentence Examples | Use Essayed in a sentence

1. at the period when the gun club Essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection.

2. it would be the same with each one, only vance Essayed to order for all, inviting counsel and suggestions.

3. also, there was an awkward hesitancy, at times, as he Essayed the new words he had learned.

4. "honey? " she Essayed tenderly, from the floor.

5. over the years, many lead actors have Essayed cool school teachers in films.

6. on the Essayed phenomenon in lu xun's novels

7. perceiving me immovable, she Essayed another method of showing her disrelish for her occupation. it changed to yawning, and stretching, and

8. sometimes madame magloire Essayed a remonstrance in advance, but never at the time, nor afterwards.

9. she thought of painting and Essayed several canvases which she took to dealers.

10. "well, do you have any close relatives? " the nun Essayed .

11. between a grand piano and a centre-table piled high with books was space for a half a dozen to walk abreast, yet he Essayed it with trepidation.

12. i Essayed to speak, but he cut me off with a gesture.

13. sometimes madame magloire Essayed a remonstrance in advance.

14. he Essayed to speak but was told to be quiet.

15. then they all knew who 'twas that had been undoing them in the cabin, and twice hook Essayed to speak and twice he failed.

16. the bishop Essayed to make him a bow.

17. mrs corney twice Essayed to speak, and twice failed.

18. four times the missionary societies had Essayed the peaceful conquest of the island, and four times, between sickness and massacre, they had been driven away.

19. the student Essayed his first solo flight.

20. "well, do you have any close relatives?" the nun Essayed .

21. at first, indeed, he seemed rather silent than dissatisfied; and it was not till judith had Essayed the subject more than once that it led to the following dialogue.

22. sinclair Essayed a smile but it could hardly have been rated as a success.

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[ noun es -ey es -ey , e- sey verb e- sey ]

• a short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usually in prose and generally analytic, speculative, or interpretative.

a picture essay.

• an effort to perform or accomplish something; attempt.
• Philately. a design for a proposed stamp differing in any way from the design of the stamp as issued.
• Obsolete. a tentative effort; trial; assay.

verb (used with object)

• to try; attempt.
• to put to the test; make trial of.
• a short literary composition dealing with a subject analytically or speculatively
• an attempt or endeavour; effort
• a test or trial
• to attempt or endeavour; try
• to test or try out
• A short piece of writing on one subject, usually presenting the author's own views. Michel de Montaigne , Francis Bacon (see also Bacon ), and Ralph Waldo Emerson are celebrated for their essays.

Other Words From

• es·sayer noun
• prees·say verb (used without object)
• unes·sayed adjective
• well-es·sayed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of essay 1

Example Sentences

As several of my colleagues commented, the result is good enough that it could pass for an essay written by a first-year undergraduate, and even get a pretty decent grade.

GPT-3 also raises concerns about the future of essay writing in the education system.

This little essay helps focus on self-knowledge in what you’re best at, and how you should prioritize your time.

As Steven Feldstein argues in the opening essay, technonationalism plays a part in the strengthening of other autocracies too.

He’s written a collection of essays on civil engineering life titled Bridginess, and to this day he and Lauren go on “bridge dates,” where they enjoy a meal and admire the view of a nearby span.

I think a certain kind of compelling essay has a piece of that.

The current attack on the Jews,” he wrote in a 1937 essay, “targets not just this people of 15 million but mankind as such.

The impulse to interpret seems to me what makes personal essay writing compelling.

To be honest, I think a lot of good essay writing comes out of that.

Someone recently sent me an old Joan Didion essay on self-respect that appeared in Vogue.

There is more of the uplifted forefinger and the reiterated point than I should have allowed myself in an essay.

Consequently he was able to turn in a clear essay upon the subject, which, upon examination, the king found to be free from error.

It is no part of the present essay to attempt to detail the particulars of a code of social legislation.

But angels and ministers of grace defend us from ministers of religion who essay art criticism!

It is fit that the imagination, which is free to go through all things, should essay such excursions.

Related Words

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• essay (noun)
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• Your assignment is to write a 500-word essay on one of Shakespeare's sonnets.
• The book is a collection of his previously unpublished essays on/about a variety of topics.
• He at first essayed [= tried , attempted ] a career as a writer.
• There is no hint as to which of the approaches essayed in this book will prove most useful.
• He essayed [= tried , attempted ] to restore an emphasis on classical languages.

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verb as in try, attempt

Strong matches

Weak matches

• have a crack
• have a shot
• make a run at
• put to the test
• take a stab at
• take a whack at

Example Sentences

But nothing they essayed could fully drown out the keening of their lust to return to high office.

Lily Pendleton was known to have once essayed an erotic novel, and had read a few chapters to some of her closer friends.

Every time the Confederates essayed to charge they were met with such a storm of shot and shell that they went reeling back.

The bishop emitted lamentable cries and essayed to resist the men who were dragging him into the donjon.

She essayed to sew, and stitched up a seam wrong side out, and ran the point of the needle under her finger nail.

The rock here being of various degrees of density, the waters had essayed a thousand channels.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

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Definition of assay

 (Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

intransitive verb

Definition of assay  (Entry 2 of 2)

Did you know?

Usage experts warn against confusing the verbs assay and essay . Some confusion shouldn’t be surprising; not only do the two somewhat uncommon words look and sound alike, they also come from the same root, the Middle French word essai , meaning "test" or "effort." ( Essai , in turn, comes from the Late Latin word exagium , meaning "act of weighing.") At one time, the two terms were synonyms, sharing the meaning "try" or "attempt," but they are now typically differentiated, with essay meaning "to try or attempt" (as in "a comedic actor essaying her first dramatic role") and assay meaning "to test or evaluate" (as in "blood assayed to detect the presence of the antibody"). Of course, essay is more common as a noun referring to a short analytic or personal literary composition, but that’s another essay .

• deconstruct
• anatomizing
• deconstruction

Examples of assay in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'assay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French assai, essai — more at essay entry 1

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing assay

• enzyme - linked immunosorbent assay

Articles Related to assay

To 'Essay' or 'Assay'?

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Dictionary Entries Near assay

assault weapon

Cite this Entry

“Assay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assay. Accessed 6 Sep. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of assay.

Kids Definition of assay  (Entry 2 of 2)

Medical Definition

Medical definition of assay.

Medical Definition of assay  (Entry 2 of 2)

More from Merriam-Webster on assay

Nglish: Translation of assay for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of assay for Arabic Speakers

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Other forms: essays; essayed; essaying

A composition that is usually short and has a literary theme is called an essay . You should probably start writing your essay on "To Kill a Mockingbird" sometime before the bus ride to school the day it is due.

As a noun, an essay is also an attempt, especially a tentative initial one. Your essay to make friends at your new school would probably work better if you actually spoke to other students. As a verb, to essay is to make an attempt. If you essay to run for student council, you might lose to the girl who promises more recess, longer lunches, and less homework.

• noun an analytic or interpretive literary composition see more see less types: show 5 types... hide 5 types... composition , paper , report , theme an essay (especially one written as an assignment) disquisition an elaborate analytical or explanatory essay or discussion memoir an essay on a scientific or scholarly topic thanatopsis an essay expressing a view on the subject of death term paper a composition intended to indicate a student's progress during a school term type of: piece of writing , writing , written material the work of a writer; anything expressed in letters of the alphabet (especially when considered from the point of view of style and effect)
• verb make an effort or attempt “The infant had essayed a few wobbly steps” synonyms: assay , attempt , seek , try see more see less types: show 17 types... hide 17 types... pick up the gauntlet , take a dare be dared to do something and attempt it fight , struggle make a strenuous or labored effort give it a try , have a go make an attempt at something grope search blindly or uncertainly endeavor , endeavour , strive attempt by employing effort give it a try , give it a whirl try adventure , chance , gamble , hazard , risk , run a risk , take a chance , take chances take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome lay on the line , put on the line , risk expose to a chance of loss or damage strive , struggle exert strenuous effort against opposition drive , labor , labour , push , tug strive and make an effort to reach a goal flounder behave awkwardly; have difficulties be at pains , take pains try very hard to do something buck to strive with determination go for broke risk everything in one big effort luck it , luck through act by relying on one's luck adventure , hazard , jeopardize , stake , venture put at risk bell the cat take a risk; perform a daring act type of: act , move perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
• noun a tentative attempt see more see less type of: attempt , effort , endeavor , endeavour , try earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
• verb put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to synonyms: examine , prove , test , try , try out see more see less types: control , verify check or regulate (a scientific experiment) by conducting a parallel experiment or comparing with another standard float circulate or discuss tentatively; test the waters with field-test test something under the conditions under which it will actually be used type of: evaluate , judge , pass judgment form a critical opinion of

Vocabulary lists containing essay

Before you can answer a question on the PARCC English Language Arts/Literacy section, you first need to know what the question is asking. Learn this list of 45 words that we extracted from a PARCC practice test's directions, question stems, and answer options.

A thorough survey of various textbooks, assignments, content area standards, and examinations yields the following list of words compiled by Jim Burke . You cannot expect to succeed on assignments if you do not understand the directions.

To improve your fluency in English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR), learn this academic vocabulary list that includes words selected from the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) state standards.

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Definition of essay noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• I have to write an essay this weekend.
• essay on something an essay on the causes of the First World War
• essay about somebody/something Have you done your essay about Napoleon yet?
• in an essay He made some very good points in his essay.
• Essays handed in late will not be accepted.
• Have you done your essay yet?
• He concludes the essay by calling for a corrective.
• I finished my essay about 10 o'clock last night!
• Lunch was the only time she could finish her essay assignment.
• We have to write an essay on the environment.
• You have to answer 3 out of 8 essay questions in the exam.
• the teenage winner of an essay contest
• We have to write an essay on the causes of the First World War.
• be entitled something
• be titled something
• address something
• in an/​the essay
• essay about

Take your English to the next level

The Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus explains the difference between groups of similar words. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app

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Meaning of assayed in English

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• A rapid method of assaying samples was essential .
• Some ore cannot be assayed by conventional means .
• Buy from a reputable brand name supplement company that states they assay the product for viable organisms .
• as an experiment
• background check
• experiment station
• experimental
• experimentally
• experimentation
• experimenter
• put out feelers idiom
• put someone/something through their/its paces idiom
• put something to the test idiom
• try something for size idiom
• try something out
• uncheckable

Examples of assayed

In English, many past and present participles of verbs can be used as adjectives. Some of these examples may show the adjective use.

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