assay (v.)
‘to put to the test or proof’
A.F. assaier < assai < O.F. assai < essai ‘trial’ < F. essai ‘trial, attempt, essay’ < La.Lat. exagium ‘a weighing, a weight’ < Lat. exigere ‘drive out; require, exact; examine, try, test’ < ex ‘out’ + agere ‘to set in motion, drive’ < uhs < ag- < Tamil ukai