[ˈɛseɪ], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a short piece of writing on a particular subject

- an attempt or effort
(e.g: a misjudged essay in job preservation)


Phrases:

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’

[ɛˈseɪ], (Verb)

Definitions:
- attempt or try
(e.g: Donald essayed a smile)


Phrases:

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’