essay

Pluralessays

Formsessays, essaying, essayed

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A written piece of medium length that examines one particular subject or issue.

   Her essay on urban loneliness appeared in a national magazine.

   The collection gathers essays by several leading science writers.

   Similararticle, piece, composition, paper

   Note

   The literary sense is Montaigne's coinage, borrowed into English in the late 16th century. Middle French essai already meant an experiment or an attempt, and Montaigne turned it into a name for exploratory prose. The word goes back through Old French to Latin exagium, "weight." In publishing it often works as a modifier, as in an essay collection, the form David Quammen's Natural Acts (2008) takes.

2. 2
   verbdatedtransitive

   To make an attempt at something; to try.

   Few writers dare to essay so ambitious a subject.

   He retraced his steps to the front gate, which he essayed to open.

   1900, Charles W. Chesnutt, The House Behind the Cedars

   Similarattempt, try, venture, undertake

   Note

   The verb comes from Middle French essayer and takes two constructions. It can have a direct object, as when a train essayed a short, sharply curved climb in Railway Magazine (1950). It can also take a to-infinitive, as in Charles W. Chesnutt's "which he essayed to open" (1900). It sounds dated and a little studied, which suits narrative prose and mock-formal invitations like "Shall we essay a walk?" better than plain speech.

3. 3
   nounarchaic

   An attempt or effort at doing something.

   His earliest essay at portraiture hangs in the family hall.

   This was Lee's first essay in the kind of offensive-defensive strategy that was to become his hallmark.

   1988, James McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom

   Note

   Now rare, but not dead: James McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom (1988) calls a campaign "Lee's first essay in" a kind of strategy. The noun tends to come with first or earliest and takes at or in, as in an essay at getting employment or an essay in a style. It sounds deliberate and slightly literary, so attempt is the safer everyday word.

4. 4
   nouncountable

   A design submitted for a postage stamp or banknote, made for consideration before a final version is chosen.

   The exhibition featured several essays for banknotes never put into circulation.

   A single essay for the commemorative stamp sold for thousands at auction.

   Similardesign

   Note

   A collector's term that keeps the old idea of a trial alive. An essay is a design submitted for approval before any stamp or note is issued. Philatelists keep essays apart from die proofs, which are taken from an accepted design, and from the issued item itself. Because essays record designs that were rejected or never adopted, collectors prize them.

5. 5
   verbintransitive

   To go forward or set out, as when advancing into battle.

   The regiment essayed forward under heavy fire.

   Whenever the horns sounded, the warriors would essay into the fray.

   Similaradvance, venture, charge

   Oppositeretreat, withdraw

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