Since late 16th century, borrowed from Middle French essay, essai ("essay"), meaning coined by Montaigne in the same time, from the same words in earlier meanings 'experiment; assay; attempt', from Old French essay, essai, assay, assai, from Latin exagium, from exigere + -ium.

• (RP, America) IPA: /ˈɛs.eɪ/ (1), IPA: /ɛˈseɪ/ (2-4)

essay (plural essays)

1. (authorship) A written composition of moderate length, exploring a particular issue or subject.
2. (obsolete) A test, experiment; an assay.
3. (now rare) An attempt.
   • 1988, James McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom, Oxford, published 2003, page 455:

     This was Lee's first essay in the kind of offensive-defensive strategy that was to become his hallmark.

4. (philately, finance) A proposed design for a postage stamp or a banknote.

• assay
• essayist
• essayistic

• French: essai, rédaction, dissertation
• German: Aufsatz, Essay
• Italian: saggio, ricerca, studio
• Portuguese: ensaio, redação
• Russian: сочине́ние
• Spanish: ensayo, redacción

From Middle French essayer, essaier, from Old French essaiier, essayer, essaier, assaiier, assayer, assaier, from essay, essai, assay, assai ("attempt; assay; experiment") as above.

• (British, America) IPA: /ɛˈseɪ/

essay (essays, present participle essaying; simple past and past participle essayed)

1. (dated, transitive) To attempt or try.
   • 1900, Charles W. Chesnutt, chapter II, in The House Behind the Cedars:

     He retraced his steps to the front gate, which he essayed to open.

2. (intransitive) To move forth, as into battle.