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essays

 

  1  definition  found 
 
  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.




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