n.
/
ˈɛseɪ/
- a piece of writing on a particular subject.
- formal an attempt or effort.
- a trial design of a postage stamp.
v.
/
ɛˈseɪ/
formal attempt:
he essayed a smile.
Derivative
- essayist n.
- essayistic adj.
Etymology
C15 (in the sense ‘test the quality of’): alt. of assay, by assoc. with OFr. essayer, based on late L. exagium ‘weighing’; the noun (C16) is from OFr. essai ‘trial’.