/ˈɛs.eɪ/, /ɛˈseɪ/
OriginSince late 16th century, borrowed from Middle French essay, essai (“essay”), meaning coined by Montaigne at the same time, from the same words with the earlier meanings 'experiment; assay; attempt', from Old French essay, essai, assay, assai, from Latin exagium (“weight; weighing, testing on the balance”), from exigere + -ium.
- A written composition of moderate length, exploring a particular issue or subject.
“In his first book since the 2008 essay collection Natural Acts: A Sidelong View of Science and Nature, David Quammen looks at the natural world from yet another angle: the search for the next human pa”
- obsoleteA test, experiment; an assay.
- archaicAn attempt.
“My first essay at getting employment was fruitless; but after no small number of mortifying rebuffs from various parties to whom I applied for assistance, I was at last rewarded by a comparative succe”
“This was Lee's first essay in the kind of offensive-defensive strategy that was to become his hallmark.”
- A proposed design for a postage stamp or a banknote.
- dated, transitiveTo attempt or try.
“Shall we essay a walk on the promenade?”
“He retraced his steps to the front gate, which he essayed to open.”
“The train took the slow to branch spur at the north end at a not much slower speed, then essayed the short sharply curved climb with a terrific roar, smoke rising straight from the chimney to a height”
- intransitiveTo move forth, as into battle.
Formsessays(plural) · essays(present, singular, third-person) · essaying(participle, present) · essayed(participle, past) · essayed(past)