A short literary composition on a single subject, usually presenting the personal view of the author, A testing or trial of the value or nature of a thing, verb_ put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to, make an effort or attempt, transitive verb_ To exert one's power or faculties upon; to make an effort to perform; to attempt; to endeavor; to make experiment or trial of; to try, obsolete To test the value and purity of (metals); to assay See Assay, intransitive verb_ To move forth, as into battle