essay

Etymology 1

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.

noun

1. (authorship) A written composition of moderate length, exploring a particular issue or subject.
   In his first book since the 2008 essay collection Natural Acts: A Sidelong View of Science and Nature, David Quammen looks at the natural world from yet another angle: the search for the next human pandemic, what epidemiologists call “the next big one.” 2013-01, Katie L. Burke, “Ecological Dependency”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 1, archived from the original on 2017-02-09, page 64
2. (obsolete) A test, experiment; an assay.
3. (now rare) An attempt.
   This was Lee's first essay in the kind of offensive-defensive strategy that was to become his hallmark. 1988, James McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom, Oxford, published 2003, page 455
4. (philately, finance) A proposed design for a postage stamp or a banknote.

Etymology 2

From Middle French essayer, essaier, from Old French essaiier, essayer, essaier, assaiier, assayer, assaier, from essay, essai, assay, assai (“attempt; assay; experiment”) as above.

verb

1. (dated, transitive) To try.
   He retraced his steps to the front gate, which he essayed to open. 1900, Charles W. Chesnutt, chapter II, in The House Behind the Cedars
2. (intransitive) To move forth, as into battle.