Essay — Defs

01 n. 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.

pl. Essays ((#))

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.
2.
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.(Lit.)
3.
An assay. See Assay, n.[Obs.] See: Assay

02 v. t. 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.

imp. & p. p. Essayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Essaying

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.] See: Assay