Tell me more ×
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 3 down vote favorite
1

By the dictionary definition as a verb, I can see that essay and assay have the same meaning, i.e. "make an effort or attempt".

I'm wondering if they are totally interchangeable, or is there a difference in degree associated with each?

share|improve this question

3 Answers

up vote 6 down vote accepted

The modern meanings for essay and assay are almost unrelated. One essays a difficult task; one assays an ore or other material to objectively measure its value. A essayist is a writer; an assayer is a metallurgist.

share|improve this answer
up vote 6 down vote

Both have the same root, the French essai (trial). As verbs with the meaning of “attempt or try”, the New Oxford American Dictionary marks essay as “formal”, and assay as “archaic”. Apart from that, they are synonymous (and both antiquated).

Edit: regarding modern synonyms of this meaning, one would now say attempt or try. Other synonyms are endeavour, seek, undertake or have a go at.

share|improve this answer
1  
If both are antiquated, what would be the apt word to be used today ? – TCSGrad May 8 '11 at 16:33
“attempt or try” – tenfour May 8 '11 at 18:32
The verb assay is still commonly used in medicine: medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=8412 – splicer May 8 '11 at 21:15
up vote 1 down vote

The noun "assay" occurs in science, such as a "sequence assay", and scientists often verb such nouns (for example the verb "sequence", such as "we sequenced the human genome").

If you're talking about the verbed noun "assay", then it isn't interchangeable with "essay".

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.