Dumb question, but...

Who knows what the word "assay" means? I only ask mecause my thesis advisor called me out today on my use of the word, saying "I don't appreciate your invention of words. It's quite pretentious."

I didn't know WHAT to say... "Sorry that you're an uneducated lummox, but get a fucking dictionary!" probably wouldn't have gone over so well.

So, without resorting to dictionary.com or the like, who can honestly say that they are familiar with the word, and its definition?

MojoXN

such as chemistry. Not familiar with any other usage.

What context did you use it in?

"A further assay of the extent of chemical contamination would seem relevant."

Writing about an EPA Superfund site.

MojoXN

I recognized the word (as a verb), and I'm not a very wordy person.

Without resorting to dictionary.com or (gadzooks) a hard copy version of a dictionary, I can pretty much tell you that I've heard this word before, also in the context of measuring stuff. You hear it all the time in old movies about the gold rush.

so, if that's the context in which you used this word, your advisor is a moron. If this is not the context in which you used the word, your advisor is still a moron, and, to be fair, you should check definitions of words that you don't use every day.

Your response is probably the one that feels right, but I think that simply providing him with the definition from the handiest Merriam Webster College Dictionary should do the trick. If it doesn't, then your advisor is a big fat moron.

You bring your gold to an assayer and he assays it. I know that. (So I assay.)

"The act of assessing or describing something, or the object of an assessment."

But it's not a word I go around using.

I checked the dictionary just to be sure, but if your thesis advisor called you out on it on the context that you made it up well, then they are an idiot. If you used it in the wrong context that's one thing, but saying you invented it is completely stupid.

I was once called out for using the word "coruscate" in a creative nonfiction workshop. This guy was trying to tell me that it meant something about battery acid. I described a woman's hair "coruscating" down her shoulders. Coruscate is basically another word for "cascade." Evidently he thought battery acid flowing down a woman's shoulders was not a sexy thing. Neither did I, that's why I never said it, haha. Some people.

very small penis.
_____________

7 entries found for assay.
as·say ( P ) Pronunciation Key (s, -s)
n.

1. Qualitative or quantitative analysis of a substance, especially of an ore or drug, to determine its components.
2. A substance to be so analyzed.
3. The result of such an analysis.
4. An analysis or examination.
5. Archaic. An attempt; an essay.

v. as·sayed, as·say·ing, as·says (-s, s)
v. tr.
1. To subject to chemical analysis.
2. To examine by trial or experiment; put to a test: assay one's ability to speak Chinese.
3. To evaluate; assess: assayed the situation before taking action. See Synonyms at estimate.
4. To attempt; try.

v. intr.
To be shown by analysis to contain a certain proportion of usually precious metal.


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as·saya·ble adj.
as·sayer n.

as·say (s, -s)
n.

1. Qualitative or quantitative analysis of a substance, especially of an ore or a drug, to determine its components.
2. A substance to be so analyzed.
3. The result of such an analysis.
4. An analysis or examination.
v. as·sayed, as·say·ing, as·says (-s, s)
5. To subject a substance to chemical analysis.
6. To examine a person's capability by trial or experiment; put to a test.
7. To evaluate a situation; assess.
8. To attempt; try.
9. To be shown by analysis to contain a certain proportion of atoms, molecules, compounds, or precious metal.


Source: The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.


assay


A test to determine the purity of gold, silver, or other precious metals. Metals used for delivery of futures contracts must be assayed to verify that they meet standards established by the exchange on which the contracts trade.




Source: Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms for Today's Investor by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.


Main Entry: 2as·say
Pronunciation: a-'sA, 'as-"A
Function: transitive verb
: to analyze (an impure substance or mixture) for one or more specific components <the sample was assayed for drug content>


Source: Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.


Main Entry: 1as·say
Pronunciation: 'as-"A, a-'sA
Function: noun
1 : examination and determination as to characteristics (as weight, measure, or quality)
2 : analysis (as of a drug) to determine the presence, absence, or quantity of one or more components —compare BIOASSAY
3 : a substance to be assayed; also : the tabulated result of assaying


Source: Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.


assay

n 1: an appraisal of the state of affairs; "they made an assay of the contents"; "a check on its dependability under stress" 2: a substance that is undergoing an analysis of its components 3: a written report of the results of an analysis of the composition of some substance 4: a quantitative or qualitative test of a substance (especially an ore or a drug) to determine its components; frequently used to test for the presence or concentration of infectious agents or antibodies etc. v 1: analyze (chemical substances) 2: make an effort or attempt; "He tried to shake off his fears"; "The infant had essayed a few wobbly steps"; "The police attempted to stop the thief"; "He sought to improve himself"; "She always seeks to do good in the world"

you get lots and lots of definition hits, so it's not an obscure word.

percentage of purity by weight of a metal bearing ore.

:-)

to the assay office to determine it's grade and value. I wonder if you could assay your professors character? I don't know.
Funny though you bring this up. Long ago in Junior High my history teacher nailed me about using catatonic incorrectly. He wrote similar stuff on my paper about using words I was not familiar with. He claimed the word 'catatonic' meant flailing around. I was describing someone who was shocked and sitting still in a catatonic state. How do you call your instructor out without poisoning the water? Diplomacy 101 challenge I think.

It's gotta be at least a hundred years old, if not much, much more... for example, the assay office was where gold, during the gold rush, was checked for quality, purity. It's also a fairly multipurpose word, so context may be required for its use: The the assay sample for the assay performed at the assay office resulted in a 14K assay.

Edit: Spelling, assay may be a word, conext is not.

To be fair, he's a history professor, and most likely has little background in the sciences. But still...

MojoXN

Maybe he was having a bad day.

though I have never used it in "real life" before (on purpose anyway). If your advisor is saying the word simply does not exist, well, they need to get out more. Even noting the fact that I do not use it, I know it exists... :shrug:

Your thesis advisor is a moron.

to determine the chemical makeup of a substance.

"assay" also means "attempt." Guess we're all pretentious word maker-uppers here. (heh, heh)

"A-ssay, a-ssay, that boy is as sharp as a bowling ball."

;-)

So I know for sure you did not make that up!!!!

Serves him right.

I'm familiar with it because it's an old word with some archaic meanings. I read a lot of historical documents and have run across it there, usually in the context of some sort of pseudo-scientific analysis but in others as well.

Did you use it in its proper context, and is your adviser someone who should recognize the context?

Suggesting that you invented a word that is in even abridged dictionaries is rather dumb for a thesis adviser in any case, but it doesn't surprise me if the person is not in a field that might use the word more commonly.

In a similar vein, I had a history professor who couldn't punctuate, and he had a particular problem with commas. He also didn't like English majors and seemed to dislike me even more because I majored in both. He was constantly trying to criticize my grammar and punctuation, and he always failed. He counted off enough on one of my papers for a "misplaced comma" that wasn't misplaced that the letter grade changed. I got my English adviser and advance grammar professor that same semester involved, and it started a little war between the departments. It was actually fun for awhile. (Yes, I had no life.)

Here's a link: <http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=assy>

Just kidding. That's really appalling.

you were NOT talking about the mining or chemical definition - because if you WERE - your advisor would have been familiar with the word.

Did he really say "invention of words"? I'm sorry, but you really should have whipped out your dictionary, and told him you use the word on a regular basis along with the rest of the educated populace.

geesh.

(And people question my ability to homeschool??)

Unfortunately, I didn't have one. I'm not even sure that I OWN one, and if I do, I certainly couldn't tell you when I used it last. I never seemed to have much of a problem with spelling or defining words. I should keep one handy so that when I bust out with "circumlocutious," I can put an end to the controversy right then and there.

MojoXN

He's right, you really should stop inventing words.:)

And, if I was someone's thesis advisor,
I think I would take a moment to look up
any words I didn't recognize.
If not for their benefit, then at least
so I could avoid comments that made ME
look like an ignorant jackass!