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

The Winter Egg was subsequently part of several notable British collections but was considered lost since 1975, the auction house noted in a lengthy essay attached to the sale lot online.

Read more on Barron's

Elite schools like Harvard, Columbia, Emory and Wellesley have added essay questions in the last couple of years asking applicants to recount a dispute with someone whose beliefs differ from their own.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The 82-year-old said he accepts the findings of a genealogist with the organisation but writes in the essay: "I feel as though I've been ripped in half."

Read more on BBC

Several systems now allow students to apply to several public universities and colleges with a single application, minimizing fees and avoiding the time-consuming process of completing different forms, writing essays and collecting letters of recommendation.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of former US President John F Kennedy, moved many Americans over the weekend with her emotional essay about being diagnosed with terminal cancer shortly after giving birth to her second child.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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