essay

Plural: essays

Noun

an analytic or interpretive literary composition
a tentative attempt
A written composition of moderate length, exploring a particular issue or subject.
A test, experiment; an assay.
An attempt.
A proposed design for a postage stamp or a banknote.

Verb

Verb Forms: essayed, essaying, essays

To attempt or try; to put to the test.
make an effort or attempt
- "The infant had essayed a few wobbly steps"
put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to
To attempt or try.
To move forth, as into battle.

Examples

Shall we essay a walk on the promenade?
She decided to ESSAY a risky seven-letter word, hoping it would clear her rack.

Origin / Etymology

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 (“weight; weighing, testing on the balance”), from exigere + -ium.

Synonyms

assay, attempt, examine, prove, seek, test, try, try out

Scrabble Score: 8

essay: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
essay: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
essay: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 7

essay: valid Words With Friends Word