essay
noun
- postage stamp prototype
- piece of writing often written from an author's personal point of view
verb
- attempt, test
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈɛs.eɪ/ / /ɛˈseɪ/
noun
Etymology: Since 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 pandemic, what epidemiologists call “the next big one.””
- A test, experiment; an assay.
- An 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 success.”
“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.
verb
Etymology: From Middle French essayer, essaier, from Old French essaiier, essayer, essaier, assaiier, assayer, assaier, from essay, essai, assay, assai (“attempt; assay; experiment”) as above.
- To attempt or try.
“Shall we essay a walk on the promenade?”
“He retraced his steps to the front gate, which he essayed to open.”
- To move forth, as into battle.