▪ a trial design of a postage stamp yet to be accepted.
verb
1. attempt or try:formal"essay a smile"
Word Originlate 15th century (as a verb in the sense ‘test the quality of’): alteration of assay, by association with Old French essayer, based on late Latin exagium ‘weighing’, from the base of exigere ‘ascertain, weigh’; the noun (late 16th century) is from Old French essai ‘trial’.