essay

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Pronunciation

• (RP, GA) IPA: /ˈɛˌseɪ/

Noun

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 2003, p. 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.

Related terms

• assay
• essayist
• essayistic

Translations

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

Translations

• German: Versuch
• Italian: tentativo, prova
• Portuguese: ensaio, tentativa
• Spanish: ensayo

Pronunciation

• (British, America) IPA: /ɛˈseɪ/, /ˈɛˌseɪ/

Verb

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

1. (dated, transitive) To try.
2. (intransitive) To move forth, as into battle.

Translations

• Portuguese: ensaiar, tentar

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