noun
essay
ESS-ay/ˈeseɪ/
A short piece of writing about a subject.
The writer composes a short essay at the desk.
Etymology
“Out” and “drive” combine in exigere, meaning “examine, try, test,” apparently here in the sense “weigh.” Through “weighing” and then “trial” or “attempt,” essay came to suggest a short, exploratory piece of writing.
In context
using your college application essay to discuss your trauma actually doesn't help you process it. And there are a couple different reasons why. First, writing about a difficult experience is, as you may have guessed, difficult.
More examples
- He revised the essay before submitting it.
- The book contains several short essays.
- A personal essay opened the collection.
Forms
essay · essays
essayist noun — a writer of essays
Similar words
- composition
- A piece of written work.
- article
- A nonfiction piece, often for publication.