es·say (ĕs'ā', ĕ-sā')
n.

1. (ĕs'ā')
   1. A short literary composition on a single subject, usually presenting the personal view of the author.
   2. Something resembling such a composition: a photojournalistic essay.
2. A testing or trial of the value or nature of a thing: an essay of the students' capabilities.
3. An initial attempt or endeavor, especially a tentative attempt.

tr.v., -sayed, -say·ing, -says. (ĕ-sā', ĕs'ā')

1. To make an attempt at; try.
2. To subject to a test.

[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. V., from Middle English assaien, from Old French assaer, assaier, variant of essayer.]

essayer es·say'er n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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