ESSAY
What does "ESSAY" mean?
A short piece of writing on a particular subject, presenting the author's view.
Meanings
- A short composition on a single subject, usually expressing a personal viewpoint. She wrote an essay on why cities should be quieter.
- To attempt or try to do something. He essayed a smile, but it didn't quite hold. formal
Did you know?
- The essay's name is its founding modesty: Montaigne called his 1580 collection 'Essais', meaning 'attempts' - he never claimed to conclude, only to try.
Word origin
From French 'essai' (a trial, an attempt), from Late Latin 'exagium' (a weighing), via 'exigere' (to weigh, examine) - Montaigne first called his pieces 'essais' because each was an attempt to weigh his own thoughts.
Remember it
ESSAY means 'an attempt' - so an essay is literally a try; if you can 'assay' (test) gold, you can 'essay' an idea.
A little poem
Not a verdict - a question
walking the long way
to see if it still believes itself.
tercet
Wordplay
- Why was the student relieved to learn what 'essay' means? The word literally means 'an attempt' - so technically every first draft already counts.
What it teaches
An essay is named for the attempt, not the answer - good thinking is allowed to still be trying.
Quick facts
What does ESSAY mean?
A short piece of writing on a particular subject, presenting the author's view.
Is ESSAY a valid word?
Yes — ESSAY is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is ESSAY?
ESSAY has 5 letters and 2 syllables.
Where does ESSAY come from?
From French 'essai' (a trial, an attempt), from Late Latin 'exagium' (a weighing), via 'exigere' (to weigh, examine) - Montaigne first called his pieces 'essais' because each was an attempt to weigh his own thoughts.
What can ESSAY teach us?
An essay is named for the attempt, not the answer - good thinking is allowed to still be trying.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.