essay

Everyday

1. An essay is a short piece of writing on one subject, written by a pupil or a writer. tree →
2. (formal, rare) An essay is an attempt or try: «his first essay into painting». tree →

In the lessons

In English and history lessons pupils write essays with an introduction, paragraphs and a conclusion; exams often ask for an essay. Phrases: «write an essay», «an essay on», «essay question».

Examples

• Write an essay about your summer holiday. tree →
• My history essay is due on Friday. tree →
• The essay has three paragraphs. tree →
• Each essay must be at least 300 words; you have 180 — how many more? tree →
• She got top marks for her essay. tree →
• The exam has one essay question. tree →
• Having made their essay they grew careless. tree →

Note

Countable; «an essay». Write «an essay on/about something». Do not confuse with «assay» (testing metal).

In Jewish tradition

In these texts it means a written study or treatise, and once an attempt. In the Prophets it is a verb meaning to try: David "essayed" to walk in Saul's armour. In the primary lessons: In English and history lessons pupils write essays with an introduction, paragraphs and a conclusion; exams often ask for an essay. Phrases: «write an essay», «an essay on», «essay question».

Examples

• Some maintain that this essay is mentioned in the Talmud treatise Sanhedrin, p. 66 b. and ibid. 67 b. which passage is according to the commentary of Rashi, to treatise Erubin, p. 63 a., a reliable historical notice. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →
• Nelme'''), in his essay on the origin of kttors, shows that all (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →
• "An Essay towards an Inveatigatidn of the Origin and Elements of Language and Letters" by L. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →
• And David girded his sword upon his apparel, and he essayed to go, but could not; for he had not tried it. (Prophets 1SA.17.39, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable; «an essay». Write «an essay on/about something». Do not confuse with «assay» (testing metal).