Essayed

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Essay \Es*say"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Essayed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
     {Essaying}.] [F. essayer. See {Essay}, n.]
     1. To exert one's power or faculties upon; to make an effort
        to perform; to attempt; to endeavor; to make experiment or
        trial of; to try.
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              What marvel if I thus essay to sing?  --Byron.
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              Essaying nothing she can not perform. --Emerson.
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              A danger lest the young enthusiast . . . should
              essay the impossible.                 --J. C.
                                                    Shairp.
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     2. To test the value and purity of (metals); to assay. See
        {Assay}. [Obs.] --Locke.
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