All 5 Uses of
assay
in
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
- — See you now; Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth: And thus do we of wisdom and of reach, With windlaces, and with assays of bias, By indirections find directions out: So, by my former lecture and advice, Shall you my son.†
Scene 2.1 *
- Upon our first, he sent out to suppress His nephew's levies; which to him appear'd To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack; But, better look'd into, he truly found It was against your highness; whereat griev'd,— That so his sickness, age, and impotence Was falsely borne in hand,—sends out arrests On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys; Receives rebuke from Norway; and, in fine, Makes vow before his uncle never more To give th' assay of arms against your majesty.†
Scene 2.2
- Did you assay him To any pastime?†
Scene 3.1
- Make assay: Bow, stubborn knees; and, heart, with strings of steel, Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe!†
Scene 3.3
- 'Twere better not assay'd: therefore this project Should have a back or second, that might hold If this did blast in proof.†
Scene 4.7
Definition:
-
(assay) analysis or the results of an analysis -- especially to determine the quantity of an ore (such as gold) in rock or of a chemical substance such as a protein in a tumor