| Essay | 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. 'exa`gion a weight, 'exagia`zein to examine, 'exa`gein to drive out, export. See Agent, and cf. Exact, Examine, Assay. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. An assay. See Assay, n. [ Obs. ] Syn. -- Attempt; trial; endeavor; effort; tract; treatise; dissertation; disquisition. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Essay | v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Essayed p. pr. & vb. n. Essaying. ] [ F. essayer. See Essay, n. ] 1. To exert one's power or faculties upon; to make an effort to perform; to attempt; to endeavor; to make experiment or trial of; to try. [ 1913 Webster ] What marvel if I thus essay to sing? Byron. [ 1913 Webster ] Essaying nothing she can not perform. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ] A danger lest the young enthusiast . . . should essay the impossible. J. C. Shairp. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To test the value and purity of (metals); to assay. See Assay. [ Obs. ] Locke. [ 1913 Webster ] |
