Etymology Map
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Essay

3 stages from Late Latin to English.

Today it means a short piece of writing on a subject

Where does the word "essay" come from? It comes from Late Latin exagium, passing through French before entering English (1590s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
exagium
Late Latin · ancient
"a weighing"
from 'exigere', to weigh out
2
Stage 2 of 3
essai
French · 1500s
"trial, attempt"
Montaigne titled his reflections 'Essais', attempts, in 1580
3
Stage 3 of 3
essay
English · 1590s
"attempt; composition"
'essay' as a verb, to try, survives in formal English
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Read the full story

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.