an analytic or interpretive literary composition
"After reading the professor's essay on modernist poetry, I realized how deeply her analysis connected the fragmented structure to the characters' internal chaos."
a tentative attempt
"After weeks of silence, his return to the team was just an essay toward regaining their trust."
A written composition of moderate length, exploring a particular issue or subject.
"After researching renewable energy for weeks, I finally finished my essay on solar power and submitted it to the history club."
In plain English: An essay is a short piece of writing where someone shares their thoughts or opinions on a specific topic.
"The student decided to write an essay about her summer vacation for history class."
Usage: Use "essay" to refer to a short piece of writing that presents and develops an argument or explores a specific topic. Do not confuse it with the verb "to essay," which means to attempt something.
To try.
"The student decided to essay a solution by simply asking the teacher for help instead of working alone."
In plain English: To essay something means to try to do it, though this usage is now very old and rarely used today.
"He decided to essay a career in teaching after graduating from college."
Usage: As a verb, essay means to attempt or undertake something difficult, often implying a willingness to face challenges despite potential obstacles. Use it when describing an effort to do something hard rather than simply trying casually.
The word "essay" entered English in the late 16th century from Middle French, where it originally meant an experiment or attempt. This sense of trying something out was first coined by Michel de Montaigne for his famous collection of personal reflections.