— essayer , n.
n. /es"ay/ for 1, 2; /es"ay, e say"/ for 3-5; v. /e say"/ , n.
1. a short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usually 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.
4. Philately. a design for a proposed stamp differing in any way from the design of the stamp as issued.
5. Obs. a tentative effort; trial; assay.
v.t.
6. to try; attempt.
7. to put to the test; make trial of.
[ 1475-85; essayer, c. AF assayer to ASSAY exagium a weighing, equiv. to * exag ( ere ), for L exigere to examine, test, lit., to drive out (see EXACT) + -ium -IUM ]