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more about essay
essay |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Essay \Es*say"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Essayed}; p. pr & vb n. {Essaying}.] [F. essayer. See {Essay}, n.] 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.] --Locke. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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. 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. 3. An assay. See {Assay}, n. [Obs.] Syn: Attempt; trial; endeavor; effort; tract; treatise; dissertation; disquisition. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: essay n 1: an analytic or interpretive literary composition 2: a tentative attempt v 1: make an effort or attempt; "He tried to shake off his fears"; "The infant had essayed a few wobbly steps"; "The police attempted to stop the thief"; "He sought to improve himself"; "She always seeks to do good in the world" [syn: {try}, {seek}, {attempt}, {assay}] 2: put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to "This approach has been tried with good results"; "Test this recipe" [syn: {test}, {prove}, {try}, {try out}, {examine}]
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