cess
1[ ses ]
/ sɛs /
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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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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
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Origin of cess
11400–50; late Middle English; aphetic variant of obsolete assess assessment, noun use of assess (v.)
Words nearby cess
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
2First recorded in 1855–60; perhaps aphetic variant of success
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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)
- the obligation to provide the soldiers and household of the lord deputy with supplies at fixed prices
- 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)
Word Origin for cess
C19: probably from cess 1 (sense 2)
British Dictionary definitions for cess (3 of 3)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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