cess

[ 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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Origin of cess

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

Other definitions 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

First recorded in 1855–60; perhaps aphetic variant of success

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cess in a sentence

He was to have all wardships and marriages, and the Dublin government was to have no power of imposing any cess or tax.
Ireland Under the Tudors, Vol. II (of 3)|Richard Bagwell
Further clauses indict the inferior ministers occupied about the cess.
Ireland Under the Tudors, Vol. II (of 3)|Richard Bagwell
The contention that cess was altogether illegal did not recommend itself to the Queen or her Ministers.
Ireland Under the Tudors, Vol. II (of 3)|Richard Bagwell
As for the cess, money must be had somehow, for he had been forced to spend largely on the repair of Limerick Castle.
Ireland Under the Tudors, Vol. II (of 3)|Richard Bagwell

The word leve or leave has very much the same signification as the word cense or cess.
The Influence and Development of English Gilds|Francis Aiden Hibbert

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)

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