English word essay comes from Latin ago, Latin de, and later Old French essai (Trial (task of considerable difficulty).)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| ago | Latin (lat) | (of offerings) I slay, kill (as a sacrifice). (of plants) I put forth, sprout, extend. (of time) I pass, spend. I accomplish, manage, achieve. I chase, pursue. I discuss, plead, deliberate. I do, act, make, behave. I drive at, pursue (a course of action). I drive, conduct. I guide, govern, administer. I perform, transact. I push, move, impel. I rob, steal, plunder, carry off. I stir up, [...] |
| de | Latin (lat) | (Late Latin) of persons. From, away from, down from, out of; in general to indicate the person or place from which any thing is taken, etc., with verbs of taking away, depriving, demanding, requesting, inquiring, buying; as capere, sumere, emere, quaerere, discere, trahere, etc., and their compounds.. From, away from, to indicate the place from which someone or something departs or [...] |
| exigo | Latin (lat) | (of time) I spend, pass.. I bring to an end, conclude, finish, complete.. I demand, require; enforce, exact (pay).. I determine, find out, ascertain.. I drive out; expel.. I endure, undergo.. I examine, consider, test.. I execute, complete a task.. I measure against a standard; weigh. |
| exagium | Late Latin (LL) | |
| essai | Old French (fro) | Trial (task of considerable difficulty). |
| essai | Middle French (frm) | |
| essay | English (en) | (now, _, rare) An attempt.. (obsolete) A test, experiment; an assay.. A written composition of moderate length, exploring a particular issue or subject. |