I. e-ˈsā, ə-ˈsā, ˈe-ˌsā transitive verb
Date: 14th century
1. : to put to a test
2. : to make an often tentative or experimental effort to perform : try
Synonyms: see attempt
• es·say·er noun
II. ˈe-ˌsā; senses 1, 2 & 4 also e-ˈsā noun
Etymology: Middle French essai, ultimately from Late Latin exagium act of weighing, from Latin ex- + agere to drive — more at agent
Date: 14th century
1. : trial , test
2.
a. : effort , attempt ; especially : an initial tentative effort
b. : the result or product of an attempt
3.
a. : an analytic or interpretative literary composition usually dealing with its subject from a limited or personal point of view
b. : something resembling such a composition
a photographic essay
4. : a proof of an unaccepted design for a stamp or piece of paper money