Try

Try
Try Try, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {tried}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Trying}.] [OE. trien to select, pick out, F. trier to cull, to out, LL. tritare to triturate (hence the sense of, to thresh, to separate the grain from the straw, to select), L. terere, tritum, to rub, bruise, grind, thresh. See {Trite}.] 1. To divide or separate, as one sort from another; to winnow; to sift; to pick out; -- frequently followed by out; as, to try out the wild corn from the good. [Obs.] --Sir T. Elyot. [1913 Webster]

2. To purify or refine, as metals; to melt out, and procure in a pure state, as oil, tallow, lard, etc. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. --Ps. xii. 6. [1913 Webster]

For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. --Ps. lxvi. 10. [1913 Webster]

3. To prove by experiment; to apply a test to, for the purpose of determining the quality; to examine; to prove; to test; as, to try weights or measures by a standard; to try a man's opinions. [1913 Webster]

Let the end try the man. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. To subject to severe trial; to put to the test; to cause suffering or trouble to. [1913 Webster]

Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleased. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

These are the times that try men's souls. --Thomas Paine (1776) [PJC]

5. To experiment with; to test by use; as, to try a remedy for disease; to try a horse. [1913 Webster]

Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

To ease her cares the force of sleep she tries. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

6. To strain; to subject to excessive tests; as, the light tries his eyes; repeated disappointments try one's patience. [1913 Webster]

7. (Law) To examine or investigate judicially; to examine by witnesses or other judicial evidence and the principles of law; as, to try a cause, or a criminal. [1913 Webster]

8. To settle; to decide; to determine; specifically, to decide by an appeal to arms; as, to try rival claims by a duel; to try conclusions. [1913 Webster]

Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

9. To experience; to have or gain knowledge of by experience. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Or try the Libyan heat or Scythian cold. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

10. To essay; to attempt; to endeavor. [1913 Webster]

Let us try . . . to found a path. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

{To try on}. (a) To put on, as a garment, to ascertain whether it fits the person. (b) To attempt; to undertake. [Slang] --Dickens. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To attempt; endeavor; strive; aim; examine.

Usage: {Try}, {Attempt}. To try is the generic, to attempt is the specific, term. When we try, we are usually uncertain as to success; when we attempt, we have always some definite object in view which we seek to accomplish. We may be indifferent as to the result of a trial, but we rarely attempt anything without a desire to succeed. [1913 Webster]

He first deceased: she for a little tried To live without him; liked it not, and died. --Sir H. Wotton. [1913 Webster]

Alack, I am afraid they have a waked, And 't is not done. The attempt, and not the deed, Confounds us. --Shak. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • try to — try and, try to 1. Try, like come and go, can be followed by and + verb instead of by a to infinitive: • Try and survive, try and live with the system Gerald Seymour, 1983. This use is somewhat more informal than the construction with to, and… …   Modern English usage

  • Try — «Try» Сингл P!nk из альбома The Truth About Love Сторон …   Википедия

  • try — ► VERB (tries, tried) 1) make an attempt or effort to do something. 2) (also try out) test (something new or different) in order to see if it is suitable, effective, or pleasant. 3) attempt to open (a door), contact (someone), etc. 4) (try on)… …   English terms dictionary

  • try — [trī] vt. tried, trying [ME trien < OFr trier < ? VL * tritare, to cull out, grind < L tritus, pp. of terere, to rub, thresh grain: see TRITE] 1. Obs. to separate; set apart 2. a) to melt or render (fat, etc.) to get (the oil) b) to… …   English World dictionary

  • try — vt tried, try·ing [Anglo French trier to choose, sort, ascertain, examine judicially, from Old French, to choose, sort] 1: to examine or investigate judicially no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United… …   Law dictionary

  • try — interj. kartojant nusakomas smarkus dūdavimas, trimitavimas: Padūduok, Jonai. – Nemoku, ponai. – Bizūnas Jonui. – Try try try ponui LLDI145(Dgč). Trimitas try try try, tū tū tū Tršk …   Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language

  • try — [n] attempt all one’s got*, best shot*, bid, crack*, dab, effort, endeavor, essay, fling*, go*, jab*, pop*, shot*, slap*, stab*, striving, struggle, trial, undertaking, whack*, whirl*; concepts 87,677 Ant. abstention try [v1] attempt aim, aspire …   New thesaurus

  • try it on — (informal) To attempt to do something risky or audacious to see how far one can go unscathed • • • Main Entry: ↑try * * * Brit., informal attempt to deceive or seduce someone he was trying it on with my wife ■ deliberately test someone s patience …   Useful english dictionary

  • Try — Try, v. i. 1. To exert strength; to endeavor; to make an effort or an attempt; as, you must try hard if you wish to learn. [1913 Webster] 2. To do; to fare; as, how do you try! [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Try — Try, a. [Cf. {Try}, v. t.] Refined; select; excellent; choice. [Obs.] Sugar that is try. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”