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essay

Pronunciation: /ˈɛs.eɪ/

The English word “essay” has 6 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A written composition of moderate length, exploring a particular issue or subject.
  2. A test, experiment; an assay.
  3. An attempt.
  4. A proposed design for a postage stamp or a banknote.

verb

  1. To attempt or try.
  2. To move forth, as into battle.

Etymology

Since late 16th century, borrowed from Middle French essay, essai (“essay”), meaning coined by Montaigne at the same time, from the same words with the earlier meanings 'experiment; assay; attempt', from Old French essay, essai, assay, assai, from Latin exagium (“weight; weighing, testing on the balance”), from exigere + -ium.

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.