爱华网转自: http://bulo.hjenglish.com/question/15225/
These verbs mean to form a judgment of worth orsignificance.
这些单词意思都是对事物价值和重要性的判断。
(1)
Estimate usually implies a subjective and somewhat inexactjudgment:
Estimate 通常暗指主观的，多多少少有些不准确的估计：
difficult to estimate the possible results in advance;
很难估计正在发展的事物的结果；
could only estimate the size of the crowd.
仅能大致估计出人群的规模。
(2)
Appraise stresses expert judgment:
Appraise 强调了专家的判断：
appraised the furniture and works of art before distributing themto the heirs.
在把家具和艺术品分散给继承人之前，先对其进行鉴定。
(3)
Assess implies authoritative judgment in setting a monetary valueon something as a basis for taxation:
Assess 暗指对某物进行金钱上的权威的估计，并以此做纳税的基础：
assessing an apartment on the amount for which it is likely to berented.
因为房子要出租，所以要对它进行估价。
(4)
Assay refers to careful examination, especially to chemicalanalysis of an ore to determine its quality, fineness, orpurity:
Assay 指的是细致的检测，尤指对矿石进行化学分析来测定其质量，优良度以及纯度：
cut a minute piece off the ingot to assay it. In extended sensesappraise, assess, and assay can refer to any critical analysis orappraisal:
切下一小片金属并分析它。 意思延伸后， appraise，access 和 assay 可指苛刻的分析和鉴定：
appraised his character and found him wanting ;
分析他的性格发现的他的特点；
assessing the impact of higher taxes on lower-incomehouseholds;
分析高税率对低收入家庭的影响；
has no method for assaying merit.
没有办法对优点进行分析。
(5)
uate implies considered judgment in ascertaining value:
uate 指为查明事情的本质而进行的大量判断与分析：
uating a student's thesis for content and organization;
对学生论文的结构和内容进行分析；
used projective tests to uate her aptitudes.
通过主观考试对他的才能进行分析。
(6)
Rate involves determining the rank or grade of someone or somethingin relation to others:
Rate 指的是根据别人来判断某人的等级和军衔：
Will history rate Picasso above Renoir?
难道历史会认为毕加索比雷诺阿等级高？
