assayen

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman assaier; equivalent to assay +‎ -en (infinitival suffix).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /aˈsæi̯ən/, /ˈasæi̯ən/, /sæi̯ən/

Verb

assayen

  1. To trial, test or assay:
    1. To trial something in order to ascertain its efficacy.
    2. To ascertain something's efficacy or usefulness.
    3. To examine or test a person's nature or intrinsic qualities.
    4. To taste comestibles (often in order to test them)
    5. To test something's or someone's battle-readiness
  2. To launch an attempt or effort at something.
  3. To look at; to research or launch an examination or inquiry.
  4. To perform an enterprise or mission.
  5. To attain knowledge via deduction, inquiry, or investigating.
  6. To query or ask one for assistance or help.
  7. To lure or draw into; to seduce or utilise temptation.
  8. To copulate, have sexual relations with, or have coitus.
  9. (rare) To have experienced something.
  10. (rare) To utilise a field of knowledge.
  11. (rare) To travel on the ocean.

Conjugation

Conjugation of assayen (weak in -ed)
infinitive (to) assayen, assaye
present tense past tense
1st-person singular assaye assayed
2nd-person singular assayest assayedest
3rd-person singular assayeth assayed
subjunctive singular assaye
imperative singular
plural1 assayen, assaye assayeden, assayede
imperative plural assayeth, assaye
participles assayynge, assayende assayed, yassayed

1 Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Descendants

  • English: assay, say
  • Scots: say, sey

References