| 释义 |
▪ I. essay, n.|ˈɛseɪ|
In 7 pl. essaies, -yes.
[a. OF. essai, essay: see assay n. For several of the senses see also say.
In 18th c. the accent. was sometimes on the 2nd syll.]
I. The action or process of trying or testing.
†1. A trial, testing, proof; experiment; = assay n. 1, 3. Obs.
c1600Shakes. Sonn. cx, Worse essays proved thee my best of love. 1605Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. vii. §7 Democritus..attributed the form thereof [of the ‘frame of things’] able to maintain itself to infinite essaies or proofs of nature. 1631Heylin St. George 247, I will make bold to venture on it, by way of tryall and essay. 1648Eikon Bas. 26 It was the first overt Essay to be made, how patiently I could bear the loss of my kingdoms. 1660Sharrock Vegetables Ep. Ded., You were pleased to judge me able, and..to propose..that I should make an essay of that ability. 1704Addison Italy (1733) 195 After having made Essays into it, as they do for Coal in England. 1745De Foe's Eng. Tradesman I. xii. 98 He has made an essay by which he knows what he can, and cannot do. 1812J. Henry Camp. agst. Quebec 28 From the essays made, it seemed to me that, etc.
†b. spec. The trial of metals; = assay 6. Obs.
1668in Phil. Trans. III. 821 The Ore being ground..they divide it in several heaps, and then by lesser Essays, they find out how much silver is contained in every heap. 1731–6in Bailey (folio).
†2. A trial specimen, a sample, an example; a rehearsal. Cf. assay 17. Obs.
1614Selden Titles Hon. 22 An essay also of that age's vnhappie affectation of Greek patch. 1656Blount Glossogr., Essay, a flourish or preamble. 1659Hammond On Ps. cvi. 16–18 Paraphr. 532 Two terrible essayes of God's wrath were here shewed. a1674Clarendon Hist. Reb. (1704) III. xv. 498 A small essay of my zeal for..your Majesty. 1684T. Burnet Th. Earth II. 55 These are lesser essays or preludes to the general fire. 1734tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) VII. xvi. §9. 110 Gave an essay in this first action of what might be expected one day from his valour and bravery.
†3. Venery.
a. = assay 9. In phrase to take essay.
b. concr. The part of a deer in which trial was made of the ‘grease’; the breast or brisket.
1611Cotgr., Foulz..cut out from betweene the necke, and the essay of a Deere. 1658Phillips s.v. Essay, The Essay of Deer is the breast or brisket..in French la hampe. 1694Acct. Denmark in 1692 (ed. 3) 160 One that is likeliest to give a good Gratuity to the Huntsman, is invited to take Essay.
†4. A taste, or first taste, of food or drink presented to a great personage; = assay 12. Obs. exc. Hist.
1598in Florio s.v. Fare la credenza. 1632in Cotgr. 1682G. Rose Instr. Officers of the Mouth 16 The Master Cook is desired not to forget his Larding-pricks, nor the Master-Butler his Essay. Ibid. 94 Let him [the Royal Butler] bring in his Wine, present his Bason and Ewer to wash, take his Essay both of Wine and Water. 1708J. Chamberlayne St. Gt. Brit. i. iii. iii. (1741) 168 A Viscount may have a Cover of Essay holden under his Cup, while he drinks, but no Essay taken as Dukes, Marquises and Earls may have.
II. A trying to do something.
5. An attempt, endeavour. Const. after, at, † of, on, towards, and to with inf.
1598Yong Diana 77 They were all but papers of essaies Of that. a1652J. Smith Sel. Disc. vii. (1821) 364 Languishing creatures..we are, in our essays after heaven. 1682Dryden Satyr 3 Whose first Essay was in a Tyrants praise. 1738Col. Rec. Penn. IV. 316 Essays..to encourage the raising some of these Commodities. 1762J. Brown Poetry & Mus. (1763) 74 The first rude Essays towards an expressive Melody in barbarous Countries. 1778Sir J. Reynolds Disc. viii. (1876) 447 An artist, in his first essay of imitating nature. 1820W. Irving Sketch Bk. II. 325 Our first essay was along a mountain brook. 1853C. Brontë Villette viii, Is this your first essay at teaching? 1860Tyndall Glac. i. xxvii. 206 Making a preliminary essay upon the glacier. 1865Livingstone Zambesi Introd., I am now in this my second essay at authorship.
b. concr. The result of an attempt. nonce-use.
1697Dryden Virg. Past. vii. 42 These Branches of a Stag, this tusky Boar (The first essay of Arms untry'd before).
†6. A hostile attempt. Obs.
c1640J. Smyth Lives Berkeleys (1883) I. 229 The King at Canterbury grants him a generall protection from all Essayes for a year following.
†7. A first tentative effort in learning or practice; = assay 16. Obs.
1656Cowley Pindar. Odes Pref., This Essay is but to try how it [Pindar's Poetry] will look in an English Habit. 1663J. Spencer Prodigies Pref. B., Admiration is..an Essay to knowledge. 1665–9Boyle Disc. Occas. Medit. Wks. 1772 II. 356 The green and immature essays of early Writers. 1700Dryden Fables (1773) Pref., The first of Homer's Iliads (which I intended as an Essay to the whole work). 1723Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.) Wks. (1753) I. 64 My hand is yet untaught to write to men; This is th' essay of my unpractis'd pen. 1734tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) I. 377 These were considered only as essays preparatory to the great design.
b. A rough copy; a first draft.
1656J. Harrington Oceana (1700) 174 The List..enter'd in the Parish Book, and diligently preserv'd as a Record, call'd the first Essay. 1793Gouv. Morris in Sparks Life & Writ. (1832) I. 417, I have made an essay of a letter.
8. A composition of moderate length on any particular subject, or branch of a subject; originally implying want of finish, ‘an irregular undigested piece’ (J.), but now said of a composition more or less elaborate in style, though limited in range.
The use in this sense is app. taken from Montaigne, whose Essais were first published in 1580.
1597Bacon (title) Essayes. 1607–12― Essays, Ded. Prince Henry (Arb.) 158 For Senacaes Epistles..are but Essaies—that is dispersed Meditations..Essaies. The word is late, but the thing is auncient. 1665Glanvill Sceps. Sci. Addr. 16 No higher title, then that of an essay, or imperfect offer at a Subject. c1700Poem to Roscommon (J.), Yet modestly he does his work survey, And calls his finish'd poem an essay. 1712Addison Spect. No. 476 ⁋1 The Wildness of those Compositions which go by the Names of Essays. 1764Reid Inquiry Ded., This leaves me no room to doubt of your favourable acceptance of this essay. 1782V. Knox Ess. (1819) I. i. 1 Essays..may now convey the idea of regular treatises. 1843Macaulay (title) Critical and Historical Essays. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. ii. i, She could write a little essay on any subject.
III. 9. Phrase, in all essays: under all circumstances. Obs. Cf. assay 21, 22.
1669Sturmy Mariner's Mag. 20 And so likewise I have shown you thus much of the Practick part of Navigation, in which you may perceive that I have wrought the Ship in all Essays, in Words and proper Sea-Phrases; and if I was at Sea, I should perform it both in Word and Deed.
10. attrib. and Comb., as essay-weaver, essay-writer; also essay-hatch (see quot.); essay-scale, a test-scale.
1721–1800Bailey, *Essay Hatch, [among Miners] a Term for a little Trench or Hole which they dig to search for Oar.
1684R. Waller Nat. Exper. 149 Putting in the *Essay-Scales two Steel Wires of equal Weight.
1884Punch 16 Feb. 84/1 And twaddling *essay-weavers, mild boilers-down of Lamb!
1711Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) III. 97 We *essay-writers are of the small-craft, or galley-kind. 1851Helps Friends in C. I. 29 The fault into which you essay-writers generally fall.
▪ II. essay, v.|ɛˈseɪ|
[refashioned form of assay, after Fr. essayer: see assay.]
1. trans. To put to the proof, try (a person or thing); to test the nature, excellence, fitness, etc. of; = assay v. 1. Also to practise (an art, etc.) by way of trial; = assay 8.
1483Caxton G. de la Tour G ij b, I wold also ye knew the tale of the Squyer whiche essayed his wyf. 1593Prodigal Son i. 92 It is a fine thing for a young man who goes to essay the world, to travel and see much. 1738Glover Leonidas ii. 436 None more willing to essay thy force. a1744Pope Epistle v, She..No arts essay'd, but not to be admir'd. 1848Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 109 A youth whose great powers, first essayed in this conflict, etc. 1856Mrs. Stowe Dred II. xxxiii. 326 The last boat was essayed.
†b. with obj. clause. Obs.
1483Caxton Gold. Leg. 376/4 Willyam..wold preue and essaye yf there were ony elacion..in his corage. 1684R. Berkeley in Evelyn Mem. (1857) III. 273 It would be soon essayed with Mr. Boyle's pump, whether or no it may give such a vacuum as to preserve fruit.
†2. To test the composition of (an ore, metal, salt, etc.) by chemical means; = assay 4. Obs.
1691Locke Lower. Interest Wks. 1727 II. 94 Whether..Goldsmiths..will not take what is by the free Labour of the Mint ready essay'd and adjusted to their use. a1704― (J.), The standard in our mint being now settled, the rules and methods of essaying suited to it should remain unvariable. 1739Joe Miller's Jests No. 207 The seven Golden Candlesticks were sent to be essay'd in the Tower. 1816Accum Chem. Tests (1818) 93 The salt to be essayed is covered with sulphuric acid.
†3. To try by tasting; = assay 5. Obs.
1598Yong Diana 164 If wormewood in his drinke he hath essaied.
4. To attempt; to try to do, effect, accomplish, or make (anything difficult); = assay 16.
1641R. Brooke Eng. Episc. ii. vi. 97 In our Gracious Kings Reigne, they have..essay'd many Soule-Schismes. a1661Fuller Worthies (1662) I. 129 He also..directed the standers by to fetch him a great hollow-stone for a font, which sundry of his father's servants essayed in vain. 1712Blackmore Creation i. 14 While I this unexampled Task essay. 1805Wordsw. Waggoner i. 99 And now the conqueror essays The long ascent of Dunmail-raise. 1876Lowell Among my Bks. Ser. ii. (1873) 257 His method leads to most unhappy results when essayed by men to whom nature has denied a sense of what the picturesque really is. 1882A. W. Ward Dickens vii. 213 He never even essayed the picture of an artist devoted to art for her own sake.
†b. To attempt to show or prove. Obs.
1656[J. Serjeant] tr. White's Peripat. Instit. 337 (title) A Theologicall Appendix..Wherein 'tis essay'd how subservient Philosophy is to Divinity. 1674N. Fairfax Bulk & Selv. 194 The worthy Doctor More has suprizingly essay'd the infinity or boundless manifoldness of worlds from the Head of lightsomness.
5. with inf. To set oneself, undertake, try (to do something). Also absol.; = assay 17.
c1530Hickscorner in Hazl. Dodsley I. 181 Therefore in thy conceit essay To axe God mercy. 1641Milton Ch. Govt. Wks. 1738 I. 40 This I shall essay to prove, can be no other than that of Presbyters and Deacons. a1762Lady M. W. Montague Lett. I. xxxvii. 143 Apelles is said to have essayed, by a collection of the most exact features, to form a perfect face. 1781Cowper Table Talk 182 Not Brindley nor Bridgewater would essay, To turn the course of Helicon that way. 1820Scott Monast. vii, I will essay, reverend Father. 1879M. Arnold Ess., Fr. Crit. on Goethe 276 So dense is the cloud of error here that the lover of truth will hardly even essay to dissipate it.
6. intr. To make an attempt.
1715M. Davies Ath. Brit. I. 233 Doctor Bray has lately essay'd with a large scope towards a more Comprehensive Martyrologe. |