plural essays
: a short piece of writing that tells a person's thoughts or opinions about a subject
Your assignment is to write a 500-word essay on one of Shakespeare's sonnets.
The book is a collection of his previously unpublished essays on/about a variety of topics.
essays; essayed; essaying
formal
: to try to do, perform, or deal with (something)
He at first essayed [=tried, attempted] a career as a writer.
There is no hint as to which of the approaches essayed in this book will prove most useful.
—sometimes followed by to + verbHe essayed [=tried, attempted] to restore an emphasis on classical languages.
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“Essay.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/essay. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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