try

Meanings

Verb

• To attempt; to endeavour. Followed by infinitive.
• To divide; to separate.
• To test, to work out.
• To experiment, to strive.
• To lie to in heavy weather under just sufficient sail to head into the wind.
• To strain; to subject to excessive tests.
• To want

Noun

• An attempt.
• An act of tasting or sampling.
• A score in rugby league and rugby union, analogous to a touchdown in American football.
• A screen, or sieve, for grain.
• a field goal or extra point

Adjective

• Fine, excellent.

Related

Similar words

• attempt, endeavor, fand, mint, take a run at, take a stab at
• sample, taste
• bash, go, stab, whirl
• sampling, taste, tasting
• touchdown (American football)
• extra point (American football)

Origin

• From Middle English trien, from Anglo-Norman trier, Old French trier, of uncertain origin. It is probably related to Italian tritare (see also French trier). Alternatively, believed to be a metathetic variation of Old French tirer, from Gothic 𐍄𐌹𐍂𐌰𐌽, from Proto-Germanic *teraną, from Proto-Indo-European *der-, see tear. Related to Occitan triar, although the Occitan verb could also be a borrowing from French. Alternatively or by confluence, the Old French is from Gallo-Roman Vulgar Latin *triare, of unknown origin.
• Replaced native Middle English cunnen (from Old English cunnian), Middle English fandien (from Old English fandian), and Middle English costnien (from Old English costnian).
• Probably from Old French trié.