essay

[ noun es-ey es-ey, e-sey verb e-sey ]

noun

1. a short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usually in prose and generally analytic, speculative, or interpretative.
2. anything resembling such a composition:

   a picture essay.

3. an effort to perform or accomplish something; attempt.
4. Philately. a design for a proposed stamp differing in any way from the design of the stamp as issued.
5. Obsolete. a tentative effort; trial; assay.

verb (used with object)

1. to try; attempt.
2. to put to the test; make trial of.

essay

noun

1. a short literary composition dealing with a subject analytically or speculatively
2. an attempt or endeavour; effort
3. a test or trial

verb

1. to attempt or endeavour; try
2. to test or try out

essay

1. A short piece of writing on one subject, usually presenting the author's own views. Michel de Montaigne , Francis Bacon (see also Bacon ), and Ralph Waldo Emerson are celebrated for their essays.

Other Words From

• es·sayer noun
• prees·say verb (used without object)
• unes·sayed adjective
• well-es·sayed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of essay¹

First recorded in 1475–85; from Middle French essayer, from Late Latin exagium “a weighing,” from exag(ere) (unrecorded) “to examine, test,” literally, “to drive out, thrust out” (from Latin exigere; exact ) + -ium -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of essay¹

C15: from Old French essaier to attempt, from essai an attempt, from Late Latin exagium a weighing, from Latin agere to do, compel, influenced by exigere to investigate

Example Sentences

It included essays by Laotian people living under long-term U.S. bombardment along with drawings by children who depicted the horrors all around them.

From Salon

It pained him, he wrote in a newspaper essay, that his oldest daughter had selected the University of Michigan for college because she thought no Florida school was good enough.

From New York Times

In 1968, Hardin wrote his essay “The Tragedy of the Commons,” which warned that population growth will outpace the gains of conservation as people overuse the planet’s resources.

From Salon

In fact, I’m writing this with my eyes closed just in case I veer into a Why We’re Doomed essay.

From Los Angeles Times

I’m often paid very little for the work that takes the most out of me: my personal essays.

From Salon

Related Words

• article
• discussion
• dissertation
• manuscript
• paper
• piece
• study
• thesis
• treatise