essay
n. countablen. a short piece of writing on a specific subject. Students usually write these to share their ideas or show what they have learned.
n. a short analytic or interpretive literary composition, usually dealing with a specific topic from a personal or limited perspective.
I need to finish my history essay by tomorrow morning.
The professor asked each student to write a five-page essay comparing two different economic theories.
Her collection of personal essays explores the intersection of cultural identity and modern urban life with remarkable clarity and wit.
Since late 16th century, borrowed from Middle French essay, essai (“essay”), meaning coined by Montaigne at the same time, from the same words with the earlier meanings 'experiment; assay; attempt', from Old French essay, essai, assay, assai, from Latin exagium (“weight; weighing, testing on the balance”), from exigere + -ium.
From Middle French essayer, essaier, from Old French essaiier, essayer, essaier, assaiier, assayer, assaier, from essay, essai, assay, assai (“attempt; assay; experiment”) as above.
Commonly takes the prepositions 'on' or 'about' to indicate the subject matter.