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An a ayer; an officer appointed to ascertain the amount of the two precious metals in coins and bullion. as-sā'y, *a-sā'y, v.t. & i. [In Mod. Fr. e ayer; O. Fr. asaier , a ayer ; Prov. e aiar; Sp. ensayar ; Port. ensaiar; Ital. a aggiare = to try, to attempt; to a ay a metal; saggiare = to try, to e ay, to taste.] [ASSAY, S.; ESSAY, V.] A. Transitive : I. To try anything or any person. 1. Of things: (a) In the same sense as No. II. (q.v.). IMG:content-0817.png:[blocks in formation] "Whom thus afflicted when sad Eve beheld, Desolate where she sat; approaching nigh, Soft words to his fierce pa ion she a ay'd." Milton: P. L. , x. 567. III. Chem., Metall., . To subject a ring, a coin, an alloy, ., to examination, trial, or experiment, with the view of ascertaining what its component parts are, and specially, in the latter case, what proportion of the precious or other metals enters into its composition. B. In trans. To attempt, to endeavour. as-sā'yed, pa . par. [ASSAY, V.]