Definitions
a tentative attempt
Word origin
Since late 16th century, borrowed from Middle French essay, essai (“essay”), meaning coined by Montaigne at the same time, from the same words with the earlier meanings 'experiment; assay; attempt', from Old French essay, essai, assay, assai, from Latin exagium (“weight; weighing, testing on the balance”), from exigere + -ium.
Used in a sentence
“My first essay at getting employment was fruitless; but after no small number of mortifying rebuffs from various parties to whom I applied for assistance, I was at last rewarded by a comparative success.”
“This was Lee's first essay in the kind of offensive-defensive strategy that was to become his hallmark.”
“Shall we essay a walk on the promenade?”
Source: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0
Used as a crossword answer2 curated clues
01“School composition”5 letters
02“Short written piece”5 letters
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