essayer
Variant of essay
essay
definition
es·say (e sā′; for n.1 usually, & for n.2 always, es′ā)
transitive verb
- to test the nature or quality of; try out
- to try; attempt
Etymology: 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
Etymology: OFr essai < LL exagium
Related Forms:
- essayer es·say′er noun
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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