Origin:1475–85; < Middle French essayer,cognate with Anglo-French assayer to assay < Late Latin exagium a weighing,equivalent to *exag(ere),for Latin exigere to examine,test,literally,to drive out (see exact) + -ium -ium
Noun:
1.a short literary composition on a particular theme or subject,usually in prose and generally analytic,speculative,or interpretative.
2.anything resembling such a composition:a picture essay.
3.an effort to perform or accomplish something; attempt.
Verb (vt)
verb (used with object)
1.to try; attempt.
2.to put to the test; make trial of.