Definition of essay

< -ess

essayist >

es·say    (s, -s) KEY 

NOUN:

1. (s)
   1. A short literary composition on a single subject, usually presenting the personal view of the author.
   2. Something resembling such a composition: a photojournalistic essay.
2. A testing or trial of the value or nature of a thing: an essay of the students' capabilities.
3. An initial attempt or endeavor, especially a tentative attempt.

TRANSITIVE VERB:
es·sayed, es·say·ing, es·says (-s, s)

1. To make an attempt at; try.
2. To subject to a test.

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ETYMOLOGY:
French essai, trial, attempt, from Old French, from essayer, to attempt, from Vulgar Latin *exagire, to weigh out, from Late Latin exagium, a weighing : Latin ex-, ex- + Latin agere, to drive; see ag- in Indo-European roots. V., from Middle English assaien from Old French assaer, assaier, variant of essayer

OTHER FORMS:
es·sayer(Noun)