essay
The definition of an essay is a short piece of writing that expresses information as well as the writer’s opinion.
(noun)An example of an essay is a short paper about why smoking is bad for you.
To essay is defined as to try something.
(verb)An example of to essay is to ask a date specific questions to see if they are a good match for you.
See essay in Webster's New World College Dictionary
transitive verb
- to test the nature or quality of; try out
- to try; attempt
Origin: OFr essayer < VL *exagiare < LL exagium, a weight, weighing < ex-, out of + agere, to do: see act
noun
- a trying or testing
- an attempt; trial
- a short literary composition of an analytical, interpretive, or reflective kind, dealing with its subject in a nontechnical, limited, often unsystematic way and, usually, expressive of the author's outlook and personality
- a proposed design for a new postage stamp or piece of paper money
Origin: OFr essai < LL exagium
Related Forms:
- essayer noun
See essay in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- (ĕsˈāˌ)a. A short literary composition on a single subject, usually presenting the personal view of the author.b. Something resembling such a composition: a photojournalistic essay.
- A testing or trial of the value or nature of a thing: an essay of the students' capabilities.
- An initial attempt or endeavor, especially a tentative attempt.
- To make an attempt at; try.
- To subject to a test.
Origin:
Origin: French essai, trial, attempt
Origin: , from Old French
Origin: , from essayer, to attempt
Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *exagiāre, to weigh out
Origin: , from Late Latin exagium, a weighing
Origin: : Latin ex-, ex-
Origin: + Latin agere, to drive; see ag- in Indo-European roots
Origin: . V., from Middle English assaien
Origin: , from Old French assaer, assaier
Origin: , variant of essayer
.Related Forms:
- es·sayˈer noun
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