“Essay”的定义以及来源

Origin: 1475–85; < Middle French essayer, cognate with Anglo-French assayer to assay < Late Latin exagium a weighing, equivalent to *exag(ere), for Latin exigere to examine, test, literally, to drive out (see exact) + -ium -ium

Noun:
1.a short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usually in prose and generally analytic, speculative, or interpretative.

2.anything resembling such a composition: a picture essay.

3. an effort to perform or accomplish something; attempt.

Verb (vt)
verb (used with object)
1. to try; attempt.
2. to put to the test; make trial of.

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