ESSAY

essay. (fr) essay, tryall what one can say, or doe in any matter.

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essay. Essay, v.t. to attempt, endeavor, try, examin

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Es″say (?), n.; pl. Essays (#). [[F. essai, fr. L. exagium a weighing, weight, balance; ex out + agere to drive, do; cf. examen, exagmen, a means of weighing, a weighing, the tongue of a balance, exigere to drive out, examine, weigh, Gr. εξἄγιον a weight, εξαγιἄζειν to examine, εξἄγειν to drive out, export. See Agent, and cf. Exact, Examine, Assay.]] 1. 1. An effort made, or exertion of body or mind, for the performance of anything; a trial; attempt; as, to make an essay to benefit a friend. “The essay at organization.” M. Arnold.
2. 2. (Lit.) A composition treating of any particular subject; — usually shorter and less methodical than a formal, finished treatise; as, an essay on the life and writings of Homer; an essay on fossils, or on commerce.
3. 3. An assay. See Assay, n.
Syn. — Attempt; trial; endeavor; effort; tract; treatise; dissertation; disquisition.