essay

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A short piece of writing on a particular subject, often for school or a magazine.

   She wrote a thoughtful essay about climate change for her history class.

2. 2
   noun

   An attempt at something.

   His first essay at finding a job was unsuccessful.

3. 3
   verb

   To try or attempt to do something.

   Shall we essay a walk along the seafront?

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Essay entered English in the late Middle English period as a variant of assay, “try” or “test,” ultimately from Latin exigere, “ascertain” or “weigh.” In writing it first referred to a preliminary attempt or draft and then to a composition. This literary use was apparently influenced by Montaigne’s Essais, first published in 1580.

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.

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External links

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