cess

1
[ ses ]
/ sɛs /

noun

British. a tax, assessment, or lien.
(in Scotland) a land tax.
(in Ireland) a military assessment.
(in India) an import or sales tax on a commodity.

verb (used with object)

British. to tax; assess.

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to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.
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Origin of cess

1
1400–50; late Middle English; aphetic variant of obsolete assess assessment, noun use of assess (v.)

Words nearby cess

cesium 137, České Budějovice, Československo, Cesky terrier, cespitose, cess, cessation, cessative, cesser, cession, cessionary

Definition for cess (2 of 2)

cess2
[ ses ]
/ sɛs /

noun Irish English Informal.

luck (usually used in the expression bad cess to): Bad cess to them!

Origin of cess

2
First recorded in 1855–60; perhaps aphetic variant of success
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for cess

British Dictionary definitions for cess (1 of 3)

cess1
/ (sɛs) /

noun

British any of several special taxes, such as a land tax in Scotland
(formerly, in Ireland)
  1. the obligation to provide the soldiers and household of the lord deputy with supplies at fixed prices
  2. any military exaction

verb

(tr) British to tax or assess for taxation
(formerly in Ireland) to impose (soldiers) upon a population, to be supported by them

Word Origin for cess

C16: short for assessment

British Dictionary definitions for cess (2 of 3)

cess2
/ (sɛs) /

noun

an Irish slang word for luck bad cess to you!

Word Origin for cess

C19: probably from cess 1 (sense 2)

British Dictionary definitions for cess (3 of 3)

cess3
/ (sɛs) /

noun

short for cesspool
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012