...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................1. (s)
a. A short literary composition on a single subject, usually presenting the personal view of the author.
b. Something resembling such a composition: a photojournalistic essay.
2. A testing or trial of the value or nature of a thing: an essay of the students' capabilities.
3. An initial attempt or endeavor, especially a tentative attempt. tr.v. (-s, s) es·sayed, es·say·ing, es·says
1. To make an attempt at; try.
2. To subject to a test.

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[French essai, trial, attempt, from Old French, from essayer, to attempt, from Vulgar Latin *exagire, to weigh out, from Late Latin exagium, a weighing : Latin ex-, ex- + Latin agere, to drive; see ag- in Indo-European roots. V., from Middle English assaien, from Old French assaer, assaier, variant of essayer.]

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es·sayer n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- essay n [ˈɛseɪ (for senses 2,3 also) ɛˈseɪ]
1. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) a short literary composition dealing with a subject analytically or speculatively
2. an attempt or endeavour; effort
3. a test or trial vb [ɛˈseɪ] (tr)
1. to attempt or endeavour; try
2. to test or try out
[from Old French essaier to attempt, from essai an attempt, from Late Latin exagium a weighing, from Latin agere to do, compel, influenced by exigere to investigate]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- es•say (n. ˈɛs eɪ or, for 3,5, ɛˈseɪ; v. ɛˈseɪ)

n.
1. a short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usu. 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.
v.t.
4. to try; attempt.
5. to put to the test; make trial of.
[1475–85; < Middle French essayer, c. Anglo-French assayer to assay< Vulgar Latin *exagiāre, v. derivative of Late Latin exagium a weighing =*exag(ere), for Latin exigere to examine, test] es•say′er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Thesaurus Legend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun 1. essay - an analytic or interpretive literary composition piece of writing, written material, writing - the work of a writer; anything expressed in letters of the alphabet (especially when considered from the point of view of style and effect); "the writing in her novels is excellent"; "that editorial was a fine piece of writing" paper, theme, report, composition - an essay (especially one written as an assignment); "he got an A on his