trial, thriall, tryal

[Eng. try; -al.] I. Ordinary Language: 1. The act of trying or testing in any manner, as(1) The act of trying or testing the strength for the purpose of ascertaining its effect, or what can be done. (2) The act of testing the strength or firmne of; probation. "Before thou make a trial of her love." Shakesp.: Henry VI., Pt. I., v. 5. (3) Examination by a test or experiments, as in chemistry, metallurgy, or the like. (4) In the same sense as II. 2. (5) Experience, experimental examination. 2. A combat decisive of the merits of a cause. "I'll answer thee in any fair degree Of knightly trial." Shakesp.: Richard II . , i. 1. 3. That which tries; that which hara es or bears hard on a person, trying his character, principle, patience, or firmne ; a temptation; a test of virtue, firmne , or strength of mind. "When we speak of a state of trial , it must be remembered that characters are not only tried, or proved, or detected, but that they are generated also, and formed, by circumstances."-Paley: Natural Theology , ch. xxvi. 4. A proce for testing qualification, capacity, knowledge, progre , and the like; an examination. "Girl after girl was call'd to trial ; each Disclaim'd all knowledge of us." Tennyson: Prince , iv. 209. 5. The state of being tried; a having to suffer or experience something; the state of experiencing or undergoing; experience. "Others had trial of cruel mockings and scour gings." -Hebrews xi. 36. 6. Verification, proof. "They will scarcely believe this without trial." Shakesp.: Much Ado about Nothing, ii. 2. II. Technically : 1. Coursing : A single course between two greyhounds. "Paradyne and Perse phone had a terrific trial ."-Field, Jan. 28, 1884. 2. Law : The examination of a cause in controversy between parties before a proper tribunal. Trials are either criminal or civil. In criminal informations and indictments, wherever preferred, trial must take place before a judge or judges (or other presiding magistrate) and a jury. Minor offenses may be tried and disposed of summarily by magistrates without a jury. The species of trials in civil cases are: By record, by inspection or examination, by witne es, by jury, and by the court. Civil actions are now tried (1) before a judge or judges; (2) before a judge and jury; (3) before an official or special referee. The first of these is now much more common than formerly. In ancient times there were also trials by combat and by IMG:content-1409.png:[blocks in formation] (2) Trial and error: Math.: A method of mathematical calculation for attaining to results not po ible by a more direct proce . An experiment is made on the a umption that a certain number is the correct one. Then it is seen how much obscure inaccuracy this hypothesis introduces into the result, and thus materials are obtained for a new calculation, which directly leads to the truth. "Here we can only go on a method of trial and error." -Airy: Pop. Astron ., p. 239. (3) Trial at bar : [BAR, 8., 36.] (4) Trial by battle : [BATTLE, B. 1.] (5) Trial by jury: [JURY.] (6) Trial by record : [RECORD, 8. (9).]