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Where does the word "essay" come from? It comes from Late Latin exagium, passing through French before entering English (1590s).
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Where does the word "essay" come from? It comes from Late Latin exagium, passing through French before entering English (1590s).
Essay’s story begins in Late Latin: exagium meant “a weighing.” From 'exigere', to weigh out. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as essai. Montaigne titled his reflections 'Essais', attempts, in 1580. It reached English by 1590s as essay. 'essay' as a verb, to try, survives in formal English. Today, essay means a short piece of writing on a subject.
- Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient exagium "a weighing", from 'exigere', to weigh out.
- Stage 2 · French · 1500s essai "trial, attempt", Montaigne titled his reflections 'Essais', attempts, in 1580.
- Stage 3 · English · 1590s essay "attempt; composition", 'essay' as a verb, to try, survives in formal English.