▪ I. trying, vbl. n.
(ˈtraɪɪŋ)
[f. try v. + -ing1.]
a. The action of the verb try, in various senses.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 502/2 Tryynge, eleccio, preeleccio, examinacio. 1447 Ordinaunce of Exchequer 35 c. 62 (6) A iij, To the mayster for laboure of redynge endosynge and tryenge of peticyons and fynes. 1535 Coverdale Ecclus. xvi. 22 The tryenge out of men is in the fulfillynge. 1630 R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 216 They know not the use of trying of Mettals. 1669 Sturmy Mariner's Mag. i. ii. 17 It is better spooning before the Sea, than trying or hulling. 1819 Sporting Mag. V. 123 All the frolic, fun,..gammon, and trying-it-on are depicted. 1898 F. T. Bullen Cruise ‘Cachalot’ 95 The whole work of cutting in and trying out was got through without a single accident. |
b. attrib., as trying-plane, a long heavy plane used after the jack-plane for the accurate squaring of timber; trying-pot, a pot for ‘trying’ out oil; trying-square = try-square (see try- 1).
| 1579 [see square n. 2]. 1815 J. Smith Panorama Sc. & Art I. 109 The trying-plane is made use of to produce a higher degree of regularity and smoothness. 1823 P. Nicholson Pract. Build. 244 The Trying-Plane..is used to regulate and smooth, to a higher degree, the surface of a piece of stuff that has already been reduced to its intended form by means of the jack-plane. 1843 E. Dieffenbach Trav. N.Z. I. ii. 51 The blubber is..immediately put into the trying-pots. 1882 F. M. Crawford Mr. Isaacs iii, The only way to arrive at any conclusion is by a sort of trying-on process. 1885 C. F. Holder Marvels Anim. Life 177 The trying-pots were taken to a small inlet. |
▪ II. trying, ppl. a.
(ˈtraɪɪŋ)
[f. try v. + -ing2.]
That tries.
1. That tests severely; that is a trial; hard to bear or endure; severe, distressing, painful; that tries one's endurance or patience.
| 1718 Hickes & Nelson J. Kettlewell ii. xv. 98 For the Security of the Church..in such a Trying Time. 1798 Monthly Mag. Mar. 183 Sudden vicissitudes of temperature must be exceedingly trying to delicate constitutions. 1825 Hone Every-day Bk. I. 652 The month of May is..a ‘trying’ month, to persons..ailing. 1907 J. H. Patterson Man-Eaters of Tsavo xvi. 175 She was so..exhausted by her trying march..that she was scarcely able to speak. |
2. Attempting, endeavouring, striving. rare.
| 1577 Grange Golden Aphrod., etc. O iij, This got I say my trying tongue, whiche tolde hyr many a lye. 1836 Mrs. Browning Poet's Vow iv. iv, The old eyes searching..The young ones..To read their look if sound forsook The trying, trembling breath. 1841 [implied in tryingly]. |
Hence ˈtryingly adv., in a trying manner or degree; in the way of attempt or endeavour (rare); distressingly, painfully; ˈtryingness, trying or distressing quality or character.
| 1841 Tait's Mag. VIII. 109 The small hand put out so tryingly. 1859 Cornwallis New World I. 359 The climate..is..at times rather tryingly warm. 1885 My Wife's Niece ii. xi, An attitude which showed so freely and tryingly the lines of her figure. 1897 M. Kingsley W. Africa xxv. 569 To walk through, give me kokos for good all-round tryingness, particularly when they are wet. |