cess Meaning & Definition
What Does Cess Mean?
As a noun, cess means An assessed tax, duty, or levy; billeting. It is also used to mean Usually preceded by good or (more commonly) bad: luck or success. As a verb, it means To levy a cess. As a verb, it means To cease; to neglect.
Word Facts for Cess
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //sɛs// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Plural | cesses |
| Verb forms | cesses, cessing, cessed |
Cess Definition (Noun)
- An assessed tax, duty, or levy; billeting.
- Usually preceded by good or (more commonly) bad: luck or success.
- Bound; measure.
Cess as a Verb
- To levy a cess.
Noun
- The area along either side of a railroad track which is kept at a lower level than the sleeper bottom, in order to provide drainage.
- A bog, in particular a peat bog.
- A piece of peat, or a turf, particularly when dried for use as fuel.
Verb
- To cease; to neglect.
Noun
- An assessed tax, duty, or levy.
Synonyms of Cess
The source does not list synonyms for this entry.
Cess synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Cess
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Cess in a Sentence
No example sentences are available for this entry.
Word Forms & Grammar
cess (plural cesses)
cess (third-person singular simple present cesses, present participle cessing, simple past and past participle cessed)
Origin of Cess
Origin 1: For the first meaning below, the writings of Edmund Spenser, published 1633, point to a borrowing from Irish cís (“tax, tribute, cess, rent”),[1] likely from Latin census.[2]
Origin 2: Other senses: Uncertain. Occurs in print at least as early as 1831, when Samuel Lover used the expression as one already long-established. He unambiguously stated the derivation of cess in the malediction bad cess to be an abbreviation of success.[3] The OED speculated that it either was from success or from assessment meaning a military or governmental exaction.[4] The verb is attested in Middle English (cessen).
Origin 3: Possibly from an archaic dialect word meaning “bog”. According to the OED, from earlier suspiral (“water pipe, setting tank”).[5]
Origin 4: From Middle French cesser. See cease.
Pronouncing Cess
Cess is pronounced //sɛs// and has 1 syllable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cess
Is cess a noun or a verb?
Cess is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is the plural of cess?
The plural of cess is cesses.
What is the past tense of cess?
The past tense of cess is cessed. The present participle is cessing.