Essay | Mean of essay in English Dictionary

/ˈɛˌseɪ/

• Noun
• a short piece of writing that tells a person's thoughts or opinions about a subject
1. Your assignment is to write a 500-word essay on one of Shakespeare's sonnets.
2. The book is a collection of his previously unpublished essays on/about a variety of topics.
• Verb
• to try to do, perform, or deal with (something)
1. He at first essayed [=tried, attempted] a career as a writer.
2. There is no hint as to which of the approaches essayed in this book will prove most useful.
3. He essayed [=tried, attempted] to restore an emphasis on classical languages.