essay

composition, article, essay, paper, prose, thesis, theme, dissertation

名词 essay:

1. an analytic or interpretive literary composition
2. a tentative attempt

动词 essay:

1. make an effort or attempt
   同义词：try, seek, attempt, assay
2. put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to
   同义词：test, prove, try, try out, examine

1. This essay is admirable in all respects.
   这篇文章在各方面都很值得欣赏。
2. I had turn over my essay to the professor.
   我已经把论文交给教授了。
3. This essay represents a considerable improvement on your recent work.
   这篇论文说明你最近的工作取得了相当大的改进。
4. I really sweated over my last essay.
   我的确下功夫写了上次那篇文章。
5. He wrote a composition or (he) read an essay.
   他写作文或读散文。
6. She made her first essays at cooking.
   她初次尝试做菜。
7. There was a prize for the best essay on Shakespeare in the city.
   这个城市设立了关于莎士比亚的优秀论文奖。

es.say

n.（名词）
[μs.3.]
[μs.3.]
A short literary composition on a single subject, usually presenting the personal view of the author.
小品文，随笔：内容通常论及一个主题的短小文章，通常表达作者个人的观点
Something resembling such a composition:
杂记文：像作文一样的文章：
例句：
a photojournalistic essay.
一位摄影记者的杂记

A testing or trial of the value or nature of a thing:
试验：对事物价值或真伪的试验和判断：
例句：
an essay of the students` capabilities.
学习能力测验

An initial attempt or endeavor, especially a tentative attempt.
尝试企图：初次尝试或努力，尤指暂时性的尝试
v.tr.（及物动词）
es.sayed,es.say.ing,es.says[μ-s3., μs.3.]
To make an attempt at; try.
尝试：做尝试；试图
To subject to a test.
试验：做实验来验证

来源：
Middle English essayen [to try]
中古英语 essayen [尝试，努力]
from Old French essaier
源自 古法语 essaier
from Vulgar Latin *exagi3re [to weigh out]
源自 俗拉丁语 *exagi3re [考虑]
from Late Latin exagium [a weighing]
源自 后期拉丁语 exagium [估量，考虑，计重]
Latin ex- [ex-]
拉丁语 ex- [前缀，表.从前的.]
Latin agere [to drive] * see ag-
拉丁语 agere [驱使] *参见 ag-

【引伸】
essay.er
n.（名词）