es·say /ɛˈse, əˈse, ˈɛˌse/
 隨筆,短文,評論,企圖(vt.)試圖
 Es·say n.; pl. Essays
 1. An effort made, or exertion of body or mind, for the performance of anything; a trial; attempt; as, to make an essay to benefit a friend. “The essay at organization.”
 2. Lit. A composition treating of any particular subject; -- usually shorter and less methodical than a formal, finished treatise; as, an essay on the life and writings of Homer; an essay on fossils, or on commerce.
 3. An assay. See Assay, n. [Obs.]
 Syn: -- Attempt; trial; endeavor; effort; tract; treatise; dissertation; disquisition.
 Es·say v. t. [imp. & p. p. Essayed p. pr. & vb. n. Essaying.]
 1. To exert one's power or faculties upon; to make an effort to perform; to attempt; to endeavor; to make experiment or trial of; to try.
    What marvel if I thus essay to sing?   --Byron.
    Essaying nothing she can not perform.   --Emerson.
    A danger lest the young enthusiast . . . should essay the impossible.   --J. C. Shairp.
 2. To test the value and purity of (metals); to assay. See Assay. [Obs.]
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 essay
      n 1: an analytic or interpretive literary composition
      2: a tentative attempt
      v 1: make an effort or attempt; "He tried to shake off his
           fears"; "The infant had essayed a few wobbly steps";
           "The police attempted to stop the thief"; "He sought to
           improve himself"; "She always seeks to do good in the
           world" [syn: try, seek, attempt, assay]
      2: put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental
         use to; "This approach has been tried with good results";
         "Test this recipe" [syn: test, prove, try, try out,
          examine]