essay

名词 n. 动词 v.
/ˈɛs.eɪ/    /ˈɛs.eɪ/

英文释义

名词 n.
  1. A written composition of moderate length, exploring a particular issue or subject.
    — In his first book since the 2008 essay collection Natural Acts: A Sidelong View of Science and Nature, David Quammen looks at the natural world from yet another angle: the search for the next human pandemic, what epidemiologists call “the next big one.”
  2. A test, experiment; an assay. obsolete
  3. An attempt. archaic
    — My first essay at getting employment was fruitless; but after no small number of mortifying rebuffs from various parties to whom I applied for assistance, I was at last rewarded by a comparative success.
  4. A proposed design for a postage stamp or a banknote.
动词 v.
  1. To attempt or try. dated,transitive
    — Shall we essay a walk on the promenade?
  2. To move forth, as into battle. intransitive

词形变化

essays plural essays present,singular,third-person essaying participle,present essayed participle,past essayed past

词源

词源 1
Since late 16th century, borrowed from Middle French essay, essai (“essay”), meaning coined by Montaigne at the same time, from the same words with the earlier meanings 'experiment; assay; attempt', from Old French essay, essai, assay, assai, from Latin exagium (“weight; weighing, testing on the balance”), from exigere + -ium.
词源 2
From Middle French essayer, essaier, from Old French essaiier, essayer, essaier, assaiier, assayer, assaier, from essay, essai, assay, assai (“attempt; assay; experiment”) as above.
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