Try , n. In Rugby and Northern Union football, a score (counting three points) made by grounding the ball on or behind the opponent's goal line; -- so called because it entitles the side making it to a place kick for a goal
(counting two points more if successful).
Try , a. [Cf. Try, v. t.]
Refined; select; excellent; choice. [Obs.] "Sugar that is try." Chaucer.
Try , n.
1. A screen, or sieve, for grain. [Obs. or Prov.
Eng.]
Holland.
2.
Act of trying; attempt; experiment; trial.
This breaking of his has been
but a try for his
friends.
Shak. Try cock, a gauge cock. See under Gauge.
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.
2. To do; to fare; as, how
do you try! [Prov. Eng.]
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.
2. To purify or
refine, as metals; to melt out, and procure in a pure state, as oil,
tallow, lard, etc.
Shak.
The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a
furnace of earth, purified seven
times.
Ps. xii. 6. For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast
tried us, as silver is
tried.
Ps. lxvi. 10.
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.
Let the end
try the man.
Shak. 4.
To subject to severe trial; to put
to the test;
to cause suffering or trouble to.
Thus far to try thee, Adam, I
was pleased.
Milton. 5. To experiment with; to test
by use; as, to try a remedy for disease; to try a horse.
Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen
me.
Shak. To ease her
cares the force of sleep she
tries.
Swift.
6. To strain; to subject to excessive tests; as, the light tries his eyes; repeated disappointments try one's patience.
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.
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.
Left I the court, to
see this quarrel tried.
Shak.
9. To experience; to have or gain
knowledge of by experience.
Milton.
Or try the Libyan heat or Scythian cold.
Dryden.
10. To essay; to attempt; to endeavor.
Let us try . . . to found a path.
Milton. To try on.
(a) To put on, as a garment, to
ascertain whether it fits the person. (b)
To attempt; to undertake. [Slang] Dickens.
Syn. -- To attempt; endeavor; strive; aim; examine. -- 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.
He first deceased: she for a little tried
To live without him; liked it not, and
died.
Sir H.
Wotton. Alack, I am afraid they have a
waked,
And 't is not done. The attempt, and not the deed,
Confounds us.
Shak.
Hear it pronounced