essay

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal · Literary

n. a formal attempt to do or achieve something difficult.

n. an initial effort or attempt to accomplish a specific task or goal.

“This was his first essay at public speaking, and he was very nervous.”

“Despite his lack of experience, his first essay at diplomatic negotiation yielded surprisingly positive results for the small nation.”

C2 · Proficiency Formal · Literary

v. to try to do something, especially something new or challenging.

v. to make an attempt at a task; to put something to a test or trial.

“She decided to essay a new style of painting after years of realism.”

“The mountain climber prepared to essay the difficult north face, despite the worsening weather conditions and limited supplies.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technical

n. a design for a new postage stamp or paper money that has not been used yet.

n. a trial design for a postage stamp or banknote, submitted for approval but not necessarily adopted for final production.

“The collector paid a high price for a rare essay of the 1920 stamp.”

“The museum's philatelic department contains several unique essays that show the evolution of the national currency's aesthetic design.”