Essay /(?)/

pl. Essays

1. An effort made, or exertion of body or mind, for the performance of anything; a trial; attempt; as, to make an essay to benefit a friend.
2. A composition treating of any particular subject; -- usually shorter and less methodical than a formal, finished treatise; as, an essay on the life and writings of Homer; an essay on fossils, or on commerce. (Lit.)
3. An assay. See Assay, n. [Obs.]

imp. & p. p. Essayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Essaying

1. To exert one's power or faculties upon; to make an effort to perform; to attempt; to endeavor; to make experiment or trial of; to try.

   What marvel if I thus essay to sing?

   Essaying nothing she can not perform.

   A danger lest the young enthusiast . . . should essay the impossible.

2. To test the value and purity of (metals); to assay. See Assay. [Obs.]