All 4 Uses of
assay
in
The Aeneid
- Betwixt the rising altars, and around, The sacred monster shot along the ground; With harmless play amidst the bowls he pass'd, And with his lolling tongue assay'd the taste: Thus fed with holy food, the wondrous guest Within the hollow tomb retir'd to rest.†
Book 5 *
- He twice assay'd to cast his son in gold; Twice from his hands he dropp'd the forming mold.†
Book 6
- Thrice he the sword assay'd, and thrice the flood; But Juno, mov'd with pity, both withstood.†
Book 10
- Then Aruns, doom'd to death, his arts assay'd, To murther, unespied, the Volscian maid: This way and that his winding course he bends, And, whereso'er she turns, her steps attends.†
Book 11
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