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   Es·say

   noun

   • 1. a short piece of writing on a particular subject. Similar articlepiece of writingcompositionstudypaperdissertationassignmentthesisdiscoursetreatisetexttractdisquisitionmonographleadercommentarycritiquecriticismexpositionappraisalassessmentdiscussionthemeinformal:piece
   • 2. an attempt or effort: formal "a misjudged essay" Similar attempteffortendeavortryventuretrialexperimentundertakinginformal:crackgoshotstabbashwhack
   • ▪ a trial design of a postage stamp yet to be accepted.

   verb

   • 1. attempt or try: formal "essay a smile"

   Word Origin late 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’.

   Scrabble Points: 8

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