essay

[es-ey, es-ey, e-sey, 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 Word Forms

• essayer noun
• preessay verb (used without object)
• unessayed adjective
• well-essayed 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

Allen closed his essay emphasizing the significance of Keaton’s death: “A few days ago the world was a place that included Diane Keaton. Now it’s a world that does not. Hence it’s a drearier world.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Together they would go on to publish essays in U.S. media outlets detailing what they had seen and to send letters to American leaders begging for an arms embargo.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

This essay is adapted from the author's book "The Nature of Pain: Roots, Recovery, and Redemption Amid the Opioid Crisis," published by the University Press of Kentucky.

Read more on Salon

By the time I stepped into the brick storefront on the pop-up’s last day, the caps and essays were long gone, but the space was still crowded for a Tuesday afternoon.

Read more on MarketWatch

This essay is adapted from his introduction to the Modern Library edition of “Tokyo Express,” out on Oct.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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