|
| es·say [ é sày ] |
noun (plural es·says) |
|
| Definition: |
| |
1. short nonfiction prose piece: a short analytic, descriptive, or interpretive piece of literary or journalistic prose dealing with a specific topic, especially from a personal and unsystematic viewpoint
|
2. work resembling written essay: an artistic or journalistic work resembling a written essay but in another medium
  not so much a short film as a cinematographic essay
|
3. attempt at something: an attempt to accomplish something
(
formal
)
|
4. test of something: a test or trial of something
(
formal
)
|
transitive verb (past and past participle es·sayed, present participle es·say·ing, 3rd person present singular es·says) |
|
| Definition: |
| |
attempt to do something: to try out or attempt something
(
formal
)
Shall we essay a walk on the promenade?
|
| [15th century. < Old French essaier "to try" < assumed Vulgar Latin exagiare "weigh out" < Latin agere "do"] |
