I love it when people get involved in my blog and take me at my word. Over the last few months I’ve been sharing my weekly word posts and I’ve suggested that if readers have a favourite word that they let me know and I’ll share it.
Today, I have my first suggestion and it comes from the lovely Billgncs who resides over at: bwthoughts.wordpress.com.He admits his suggestion was purloined from Doug McIlroy at: ironwoodwind.wordpress.com and and the word is Assayed
So, I’ve had a few days to come up with an alternative meaning and the best I can come up with is “Assayed – the first time comic at a comedy club who is booed off the stage“. Go on, what’s your alternative meaning?
This week’s word is ASSAYED, it is a NOUN and is pronounced ‘ass-ay-ed’
- The office had the diamond assayed before they would attempt to give it a value
- “Told him to have it assayed and meet me at the dance hall tonight.” – Courtesy of Doug McIlroy
- “No resistance, we assayed one another, her eyes moist with fear and anger.” – Courtesy of Billgncs
Origins of the word Assayed
The word assayed was originally used in the 14th Century and it is a middle english word that derives from the Anglo-French word assai, essai — meaning to put to a test.
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Why the Weekly Word?
The idea of the Weekly Word comes from Toastmasters International. At each meeting we have a Grammarian whose role is to encourage members to try out new words that stretch our vocabulary, as well as to monitor and report back on people’s use of language. If you’d like to find out more about Toastmasters groups in your area then you can visit their website at: http://www.toastmasters.org.
If you would like to see previous Weekly Words on this blog and try out your own alternative meanings, you can find them all listed here: the-weekly-word
assayed it once, and assayed it again, but she just never listens to me.
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There should be a like button for comments, too! This made me laugh, Rich 🙂
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glad to help
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What a great idea Anne – perhaps we ought to put it to WordPress 🙂
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I agree about a like button. It would be good. I could have used it here, too.
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It seems that this might be a suggestion to definitely take to Automattic (the guys that own wordpress.com)
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Nice one Rich – love that and another one in that lovely southern drawl.
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thanks… the word almost sounds rich and golden as it rolls off the tongue.
Assay — from the Spanish inquisition, to seize and hold one’s personal belonging and property until their heretical disposition was resolved.
Current usage slang ( from Rich’s family ) — you keep talking back and you gonna need some assayed..
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I love the slang use Bill – I can just imagine that being delivered in a slow southern drawl 🙂
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