B2 verb Formel

essay

/ɛˈseɪ/

To attempt or make an effort to do something, especially something difficult or challenging. It often implies a first trial or an experimental endeavor to see if a task can be accomplished.

Exemples

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1

He decided to essay a smile despite the bad news.

He decided to attempt a smile despite the bad news.

2

The diplomat will essay to mediate the conflict between the two nations.

The diplomat will attempt to mediate the conflict between the two nations.

3

I might essay a joke to lighten the mood, but I'm not very funny.

I might try a joke to lighten the mood, but I'm not very funny.

Famille de mots

Nom
essay
Verb
essay
Adjectif
essayistic
Apparenté
essayist
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Astuce mémo

Think of the noun 'essay' as a 'trial' of your ideas on paper; therefore, to 'essay' as a verb is simply to 'trial' or 'try' an action.

Quiz rapide

The young pianist was nervous to ______ such a difficult concerto for her debut.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : essay

Exemples

1

He decided to essay a smile despite the bad news.

everyday

He decided to attempt a smile despite the bad news.

2

The diplomat will essay to mediate the conflict between the two nations.

formal

The diplomat will attempt to mediate the conflict between the two nations.

3

I might essay a joke to lighten the mood, but I'm not very funny.

informal

I might try a joke to lighten the mood, but I'm not very funny.

4

In this chapter, the author will essay a new interpretation of the historical data.

academic

In this chapter, the author will attempt a new interpretation of the historical data.

5

The startup plans to essay a breakthrough in renewable energy storage next year.

business

The startup plans to attempt a breakthrough in renewable energy storage next year.

Famille de mots

Nom
essay
Verb
essay
Adjectif
essayistic
Apparenté
essayist

Collocations courantes

essay a task to attempt a task
essay a response to try to give a response
essay a smile to try to smile
essay an explanation to attempt an explanation
essay a flight to attempt a flight (often historical context)

Phrases Courantes

essay to do

to attempt to do

essay a role

to try out or perform a role

essay a beginning

to try to make a start

Souvent confondu avec

essay vs assay

Assay means to analyze the chemical composition of a substance (like gold), while essay (verb) means to attempt something.

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Notes d'usage

As a verb, 'essay' is quite formal and is more common in literature or high-level academic writing than in daily speech. It is frequently followed by a noun (e.g., essay a smile) or an infinitive (e.g., essay to climb).

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Erreurs courantes

Learners often mistake 'essay' solely for the noun meaning a piece of writing; remember that as a verb, the stress often shifts to the second syllable (es-SAY).

💡

Astuce mémo

Think of the noun 'essay' as a 'trial' of your ideas on paper; therefore, to 'essay' as a verb is simply to 'trial' or 'try' an action.

📖

Origine du mot

From the Old French 'essayer', which means 'to test' or 'to try out'.

Modèles grammaticaux

Transitive verb (requires an object) Often followed by a 'to' infinitive Regular conjugation: essayed, essaying

Quiz rapide

The young pianist was nervous to ______ such a difficult concerto for her debut.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : essay

Mots lis

blacklist

B2

To put a person, organization, or country on a list of those who are considered unacceptable and should be avoided or excluded from certain activities or privileges. It is often used to describe the denial of employment, trade, or participation based on previous behavior or reputation.

blackmailer

B2

A person who demands money, favors, or specific actions from someone by threatening to reveal damaging secrets or private information about them. It refers to an individual who practices extortion through psychological or reputational leverage.

blackout

B2

A blackout refers to a temporary loss of electrical power over an area or a sudden failure of memory or consciousness in an individual. It can also describe a period of censorship where information or news is intentionally suppressed by an authority.

blackthorn

B2

A thorny deciduous shrub or small tree of the rose family, native to Europe and western Asia, which produces white flowers in early spring and small, bitter, dark blue fruits known as sloes. It is frequently used for creating dense, prickly hedges and is well-known for providing the wood used in traditional Irish walking sticks.

bladder

B2

To swell, puff out, or expand like a balloon, often used in technical contexts to describe membranes filling with air or liquid. Informally, it can also refer to talking at length without much substance or meaning.

blame

B2

To consider or state that someone or something is responsible for a mistake, failure, or negative situation. It involves attributing the cause of a problem to a specific person, group, or factor.

blameless

B2

Describes someone who has done nothing wrong and cannot be held responsible for a bad situation or mistake. It is often used to emphasize a person's innocence or their morally upright character.

blameworthy

B2

Deserving of blame, criticism, or censure because of wrong or negligent behavior. It is often used to describe actions or individuals that are morally or legally responsible for a negative outcome.

blandness

B2

Blandness refers to the quality of being uninteresting, dull, or lacking in strong features and characteristics. In a culinary context, it describes food that lacks flavor or seasoning, while in a general context, it describes things that are mediocre or devoid of personality.

blank

B2

Describes a surface that has no writing, images, or marks on it, or a state of mind where one cannot remember or think of anything. It is frequently used to describe paper, screens, or facial expressions that lack emotion or understanding.

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