Espy
(Es*py"), n.; pl. Espies [OF. espie. See Espy, v., Spy.] A spy; a scout. [Obs.] Huloet.
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esque
(-esque) [F., fr. It. -isco. Cf. -ish.] A suffix of certain words from the French, Italian, and Spanish.
It denotes manner or style; like; as, arabesque, after the manner of the Arabs.
Esquimau
(Es"qui*mau) n.; pl. Esquimaux [F.] Same as Eskimo.
It is . . . an error to suppose that where an Esquimau can live, a civilized man can live also.
McClintock. Esquire
(Es*quire") n. [OF. escuyer, escuier, properly, a shield-bearer, F. écuyer shield-bearer, armor-
bearer, squire of a knight, esquire, equerry, rider, horseman, LL. scutarius shield-bearer, fr. L. scutum
shield, akin to Gr. skin, hide, from a root meaning to cover; prob. akin to E. hide to cover. See Hide
to cover, and cf. Equerry, Escutcheon.] Originally, a shield-bearer or armor-bearer, an attendant on a
knight; in modern times, a title of dignity next in degree below knight and above gentleman; also, a title
of office and courtesy; — often shortened to squire.
In England, the title of esquire belongs by right of birth to the eldest sons of knights and their eldest
sons in perpetual succession; to the eldest sons of younger sons of peers and their eldest sons in perpetual
succession. It is also given to sheriffs, to justices of the peace while in commission, to those who bear
special office in the royal household, to counselors at law, bachelors of divinity, law, or physic, and to
others. In the United States the title is commonly given in courtesy to lawyers and justices of the peace,
and is often used in the superscription of letters instead of Mr.
Esquire
(Es*quire") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Esquired ; p. pr. & vb. n. Esquiring.] To wait on as an esquire
or attendant in public; to attend. [Colloq.]
Esquisse
(||Es`quisse") n. [F. See Sketch.] (Fine Arts) The first sketch of a picture or model of a statue.
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ess
(-ess) [OF. -esse, LL. -issa, Gr. .] A suffix used to form feminine nouns; as, actress, deaconess,
songstress.
Essay
(Es"say) n.; pl. Essays [F. essai, fr. L. exagium a weighing, weight, balance; ex out + agere
to drive, do; cf. examen, exagmen, a means of weighing, a weighing, the tongue of a balance, exigere
to drive out, examine, weigh, Gr. 'exa`gion a weight, 'exagia`zein to examine, 'exa`gein to drive out,
export. See Agent, and cf. Exact, Examine, Assay.]
1. An effort made, or exertion of body or mind, for the performance of anything; a trial; attempt; as, to
make an essay to benefit a friend. "The essay at organization." M. Arnold.
2. (Lit.) A composition treating of any particular subject; — usually shorter and less methodical than
a formal, finished treatise; as, an essay on the life and writings of Homer; an essay on fossils, or on
commerce.
3. An assay. See Assay, n. [Obs.]
Syn. — Attempt; trial; endeavor; effort; tract; treatise; dissertation; disquisition.
Essay
(Es*say") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Essayed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Essaying.] [F. essayer. See Essay,
n.]
