WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Es"say
Part of Speech : n.;
Etymology : [F. essai, fr. L. exagium a weighing, weight, balance; ex out + agere to drive, do; cf. examen, exagmen, a means of weighing, a weighing, the tongue of a balance, exigere to drive out, examine, weigh, Gr. 'exa`gion a weight, 'exagia`zein to examine, 'exa`
Definition : 1. An effort made, or exertion of body or mind, for the performance of anything; a trial; attempt; as, to make an essay to benefit a friend. "The essay at organization." M. Arnold.

2. (Lit.)

Defn: A composition treating of any particular subject; -- usually shorter and less methodical than a formal, finished treatise; as, an essay on the life and writings of Homer; an essay on fossils, or on commerce.

3. An assay. See Assay, n. [Obs.]

Syn. -- Attempt; trial; endeavor; effort; tract; treatise; dissertation; disquisition.

pl. Essays.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Es*say"
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [F. essayer. See Essay, n.]
Definition : 1. To exert one's power or faculties upon; to make an effort to perform; to attempt; to endeavor; to make experiment or trial of; to try. What marvel if I thus essay to sing Byron. Essaying nothing she can not perform. Emerson. A danger lest the young enthusiast . . . should essay the impossible. J. C. Shairp.

2. To test the value and purity of (metals); to assay. See Assay. [Obs.] Locke.

t. [imp. & p. p. Essayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Essaying.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913