In crime and legal contexts, “essayed” usually means attempted or tried to commit a crime, rather than successfully completing it.

Core meaning in crime

When a report says someone “essayed” a crime, it typically means:

  • They took concrete steps toward committing the offense.
  • The act was not completed, but it moved beyond vague ideas or casual talk.
  • There was clear intent to carry out the crime.

In plain language: “He essayed to commit burglary” ≈ “He tried to commit burglary.”

Where the word comes from

“Essayed” is just the past tense of the verb “to essay,” which means “to try,” “to attempt,” or “to put to a test.”

So in crime writing, it’s a slightly formal or old‑fashioned way to say someone attempted a criminal act.

Example uses in a crime context

  • “The accused essayed to break into the premises but fled when the alarm sounded.”
  • “She essayed to commit fraud by preparing forged documents, though no money was obtained.”

These would normally be charged as “attempted burglary” or “attempted fraud,” but some documents might phrase it as “essaying to commit” the crime.

TL;DR: In crime, “essayed” = tried to commit a crime (an attempted act with intent, even if it wasn’t completed).

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.