essay
noun
a short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usually in prose and generally analytic, speculative, or interpretative.
had been essaying
-
past perfect progressiveof essay.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Almost—I would have given worlds to know, and yet I dared not face it—almost it had been essaying a wink!
From Two Sides of the Face Midwinter Tales by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
In a miserable condition they restored him to his disconsolate wife, who had been essaying all her arts to persuade the officer of the guard to mitigate the poor wretch's punishment.
From Great Singers, First Series Faustina Bordoni To Henrietta Sontag by George T. (George Titus) Ferris
