Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Essay \Es*say"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Essayed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Essaying}.] [F. essayer. See {Essay}, n.]
   1. To exert one's power or faculties upon; to make an effort
      to perform; to attempt; to endeavor; to make experiment or
      trial of; to try.

            What marvel if I thus essay to sing?  --Byron.

            Essaying nothing she can not perform. --Emerson.

            A danger lest the young enthusiast . . . should
            essay the impossible.                 --J. C.
                                                  Shairp.

   2. To test the value and purity of (metals); to assay. See
      {Assay}. [Obs.] --Locke.

Essay \Es"say\, n.; pl. {Essays}. [F. essai, fr. L. exagium a
   weighing, weight, balance; ex out + agere to drive, do; cf.
   examen, exagmen, a means of weighing, a weighing, the tongue
   of a balance, exigere to drive out, examine, weigh, Gr.
   'exa`gion a weight, 'exagia`zein to examine, 'exa`gein to
   drive out, export. See {Agent}, and cf. {Exact}, {Examine},
   {Assay}.]
   1. An effort made, or exertion of body or mind, for the
      performance of anything; a trial; attempt; as, to make an
      essay to benefit a friend. ``The essay at organization.''
      --M. Arnold.

   2. (Lit.) A composition treating of any particular subject;
      -- usually shorter and less methodical than a formal,
      finished treatise; as, an essay on the life and writings
      of Homer; an essay on fossils, or on commerce.

   3. An assay. See {Assay}, n. [Obs.]

   Syn: Attempt; trial; endeavor; effort; tract; treatise;
        dissertation; disquisition.

Source : WordNet®

essay
     n 1: an analytic or interpretive literary composition
     2: a tentative attempt
     v 1: make an effort or attempt; "He tried to shake off his
          fears"; "The infant had essayed a few wobbly steps";
          "The police attempted to stop the thief"; "He sought to
          improve himself"; "She always seeks to do good in the
          world" [syn: {try}, {seek}, {attempt}, {assay}]
     2: put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental
        use to; "This approach has been tried with good results";
        "Test this recipe" [syn: {test}, {prove}, {try}, {try out},
         {examine}]