try English · revision 1990

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1325}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /traɪ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|trien]], [[bor|xno|trier]], from Old French [[m|fro|trier|t=to pick out, cull, sift]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(COED 2004) a verb also found in [[pro|triar]] and [[ca|triar]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) The AHD derives it [[der|la-vul|*triāre]], and Barnhart and Etymonline from a Gallo-Romance *triāre of unknown origin.^(AHD 2000)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) MW suggests [[la|trītāre|t=to grind]] (Late Latin), a frequentative of [[m|la|terere|t=to rub]],^(MW Collegiate) a derivation Klein rejects on grounds of both meaning and sound.^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To separate one thing from others, to set apart or distinguish, especially to pick out the good part (about 1300),^(Etymonline) and to examine and decide judicially (before 1325).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The senses grow from the idea of separating out the good by examination: hence “to examine, evaluate” and “to decide (a question) by combat” about 1300.^(Etymonline) The legal sense “to examine and decide on the evidence, sit in judgement on” is by the mid-14th century,^(Etymonline) as is “to put to the test, prove the worth of”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) “To attempt” is early 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) “to subject to strain” (''try one's patience'') from the 1530s,^(Etymonline) and “to test by use” from the 1540s.^(Etymonline) In cookery ''try'' meant “to separate or reduce by boiling”, from the early 14th century.^(Etymonline) A sailing ship lying to was ''at try'' in the 16th century, whence [[trysail]].^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) The noun meant a sieve in the late 15th century,^(SOED 2002)^(Etymonline) and an attempt from the early 17th century,^(SOED 2002)^(NODE 1998) though Etymonline has this colloquial sense only by 1832.^(Etymonline) In rugby a ''try'', touching the ball down behind the opponents' goal line, dates from the 1840s, named because it gives the right to try to kick a goal.^(Cresswell 2021) ''Try anything once'' dates from the 1920s.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – to separate, distinguish, examine.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1325 – to examine judicially.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1333 – to attempt.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 14th century – in cookery, to render by boiling.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-14th century – to test, and to try a case at law.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 15th century – noun, a sieve.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+ * 1530s – to strain (one's patience).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1540s – to test by use.^(Etymonline)

+ * 16th century – ''at try'', of a ship lying to.^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)

+ * 1570s – ''try one's luck''.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 17th century – noun, an attempt.^(SOED 2002)^(NODE 1998)

+ * 1840s – a try in rugby.^(Cresswell 2021)

+ * 1844 – to try a door, to see whether it is locked.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1920s – ''try anything once''.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make an effort to do something; [[attempt]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To taste, sample or test in order to judge quality or effect: ''try the soup''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To examine (a case) in a court of law, or put (a person) on [[trial]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To strain or tax: ''it tries my patience''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To melt (fat) to separate out impurities; render.^(AHD)

+ # To test whether (a door or window) is locked.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An attempt, an effort.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(rugby)'' A score made by touching the ball down behind the opponents' goal line.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[retry]]

+ * [[triable]]

+ * [[trying]]

+ * [[try on]]

+ * [[try out]]

+ * [[try square]]

+ * [[college try]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[trial]]

+ * [[tried and true]]

+ * [[trier]]

+ * [[tryout]]

+ * [[trysail]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ RHWU says ''try and'' for ''try to'' has been standard since the 17th century and occurs only with the base form ''try'', not ''tries'' or ''tried'';^(Wiktionary) the AHD calls it informal, and 65 percent of its Usage Panel rejected it in formal writing.^(AHD) RHWU distinguishes try, the most general word, from [[attempt]] (often for serious matters, with a possibility of failure), endeavour (sustained, earnest effort) and [[strive]] (persistent, strenuous effort).^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}