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The Definition of an Essay

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Submitted By donalddraper
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Definition of ESSAY
1
: to put to a test
2
: to make an often tentative or experimental effort to perform: try
— es·say·er noun
Examples of ESSAY 1. There is no hint as to which of the approaches essayed in this book will prove most useful. 2. <he had been in gymnastics for some time before he even considered essaying that move>
First Known Use of ESSAY
14th century
Related to ESSAY
Synonyms
assay, endeavor, attempt, seek, strive, try
Related Words fight, strain, struggle, toil, trouble, work; aim, aspire,hope; assume, take up, undertake
Near Antonyms drop, give up, quit more See Synonym Discussion at attempt
Rhymes with ESSAY abbé, affray, agley, airplay, airway, aisleway, all-day, allay,allée, Angers, Anhui, archway, array, ashtray, assay, astray,Augier, away...
[+]more
2es·say noun \ˈe-ˌsā; senses 1, 2 & 4 also e-ˈsā\
Definition of ESSAY
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 photographicessay>
4
: a proof of an unaccepted design for a stamp or piece of paper money See essay defined for English-language learners »
Examples of ESSAY 1. Your assignment is to write a 500-word essay on one of Shakespeare's sonnets. 2. The book is a collection of his previously unpublishedessays on a variety of topics.

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