| 释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024es•say /n. ˈɛseɪ or, for 3., ɛˈseɪ; v. ɛˈseɪ/USA pronunciation n. [countable]- Literaturea short piece of writing on a particular theme or subject.
- an effort to perform or accomplish something;
attempt.
v. [~ + object] - to try;
attempt:She essayed a short jump.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024es•say (n. es′ā for 1, 2; es′ā, e sā′ for 3–5;
v. e sā′),USA pronunciation n. - Literaturea short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usually in prose and generally analytic, speculative, or interpretative.
- anything resembling such a composition:a picture essay.
- an effort to perform or accomplish something;
attempt. - Stamps[Philately.]a design for a proposed stamp differing in any way from the design of the stamp as issued.
- [Obs.]a tentative effort;
trial;
assay.
v.t. - to try;
attempt. - to put to the test;
make trial of.
- Late Latin exagium a weighing, equivalent. to *exag(ere), for Latin exigere to examine, test, literally, to drive out (see exact) + -ium -ium
- Middle French essayer, cognate with Anglo-French assayer to assay
- 1475–85
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: essay n /ˈɛseɪ; (for senses 2, 3 also) ɛˈseɪ/- a short literary composition dealing with a subject analytically or speculatively
- an attempt or endeavour; effort
- a test or trial
vb /ɛˈseɪ/(transitive)- to attempt or endeavour; try
- to test or try out
Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French essaier to attempt, from essai an attempt, from Late Latin exagium a weighing, from Latin agere to do, compel, influenced by exigere to investigate |