Hypertext Webster Gateway: "trying"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

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.

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.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Trying \Try"ing\, a.
Adapted to try, or put to severe trial; severe; afflictive;
as, a trying occasion or position.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

trying
adj 1: hard to endure; "fell upon trying times"
2: extremely irritating to the nerves; "nerve-racking noise";
"the stressful days before a war"; "a trying day at the
office" [syn: {nerve-racking}, {nerve-wracking}, {stressful}]

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