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Synonyms
es·say (ĕśā́, ĕ-sā́)

[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.]

noun 

    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.

transitive verb: -sayed, -say·ing, -says. 

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

derivatives

es·saýer
noun