essay

[ noun es-ey for 1, 2; es-ey, e-sey for 3-5; verb e-sey ]
See synonyms for: essayessayedessays on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. an effort to perform or accomplish something; attempt.

  2. Philately. a design for a proposed stamp differing in any way from the design of the stamp as issued.

  3. Obsolete. a tentative effort; trial; assay.

verb (used with object)
  1. to try; attempt.

  2. to put to the test; make trial of.

Origin of essay

1
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; see exact) + -ium -ium

Other words from essay

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

Words that may be confused with essay

Words Nearby essay

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use essay in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for essay

essay

noun(ˈɛseɪ, for senses 2, 3 also ɛˈseɪ)
  1. a short literary composition dealing with a subject analytically or speculatively

  2. an attempt or endeavour; effort

  1. a test or trial

verb(ɛˈseɪ) (tr)
  1. to attempt or endeavour; try

  2. to test or try out

Origin of essay

1
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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for essay

essay

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.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.