essay meaning in vocabulary

 'essay' - Complete English Word Reference

Definitions of 'essay', grammar question, pronunciation of 'essay'.

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Conjugations of 'essay'

Synonyms of 'essay', collocations with 'essay', examples of 'essay'  in a sentence, translations of 'essay', 'essay' in other languages.

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Definition of essay

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Definition of essay  (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

• composition

attempt , try , endeavor , essay , strive mean to make an effort to accomplish an end.

attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort.

try is often close to attempt but may stress effort or experiment made in the hope of testing or proving something.

endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty.

essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting.

strive implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort.

Examples of essay in a Sentence

Word history.

Middle French essai , ultimately from Late Latin exagium act of weighing, from Latin ex- + agere to drive — more at agent

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing essay

• essay question
• photo - essay

Articles Related to essay

To 'Essay' or 'Assay'?

You'll know the difference if you give it the old college essay

Dictionary Entries Near essay

Cite this entry.

“Essay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/essay. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of essay.

Kids Definition of essay  (Entry 2 of 2)

More from Merriam-Webster on essay

Nglish: Translation of essay for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of essay for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about essay

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Meaning of essay – Learner’s Dictionary

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• Have you handed your history essay in yet ?
• There's a few spelling mistakes in your essay.
• I got an A minus for my last essay.
• I read over my essay to check for mistakes .
• I had to rewrite my essay.

(Definition of essay from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Translations of essay

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Word of the Day

(usually used about clothing) new and not used, or looking clean and fresh and in very good condition

It’s written in the stars: talking about things that might happen in the future

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Essay Definition

• disquisition

(dated) To try .

(intransitive) To move forth, as into battle.

Other Word Forms of Essay

Origin of essay.

French essai trial, attempt from Old French from essayer to attempt from Vulgar Latin exagiāre to weigh out from Late Latin exagium a weighing Latin ex- ex- Latin agere to drive ag- in Indo-European roots V., from Middle English assaien from Old French assaer, assaier variant of essayer

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

From Middle French essai .

From Wiktionary

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Essay Is Also Mentioned In

• photo-essay
• essay question

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