Essays

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Essay \Es"say\, n.; pl. {Essays}. [F. essai, fr. L. exagium a
     weighing, weight, balance; ex out + agere to drive, do; cf.
     examen, exagmen, a means of weighing, a weighing, the tongue
     of a balance, exigere to drive out, examine, weigh, Gr.
     'exa`gion a weight, 'exagia`zein to examine, 'exa`gein to
     drive out, export. See {Agent}, and cf. {Exact}, {Examine},


     {Assay}.]
     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. "The essay at organization."
        --M. Arnold.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Lit.) 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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. An assay. See {Assay}, n. [Obs.]
  
     Syn: Attempt; trial; endeavor; effort; tract; treatise;
          dissertation; disquisition.
          [1913 Webster]