Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Peter Mark Roget

675. Essay — N. essay, trial, endeavor, attempt; aim, struggle,

venture, adventure, speculation, coup d'essai [Fr.], debut; probation &c (experiment) 463. V. try, essay; experiment &c 463; endeavor, strive; tempt, attempt, make an attempt; venture, adventure, speculate, take one's chance, tempt fortune; try one's fortune, try one's luck, try one's hand; use one's endeavor; feel one's way, grope one's way, pick one's way. try hard, push, make a bold push, use one's best endeavor; do one's best &c (exertion) 686. Adj. essaying &c v.; experimental &c 463; tentative, empirical, probationary. Adv. experimentally &c adj.; on trial, at a venture; by rule of thumb. if one may be so bold. Phr. aut non tentaris aut perfice [Lat.] [Ovid]; chi non s'arrischia non guadagna [Fr.].