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.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Origin of cess
11400–50; late Middle English; aphetic variant of obsolete assess assessment, noun use of assess (v.)
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
2First 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
This prompted many states, including Delhi, Odisha, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Telangana, to announce a “coronavirus cess,” a huge markup that was to be paid over and above state taxes.
The steep Covid-19 tax on liquor is forcing Indians to switch to cheaper brands|Manavi Kapur|July 21, 2020|QuartzAnd frequently they were forced to pay quartering money for more men than were in reality “cessed on them.”
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. XXII (of 25)|Robert Louis StevensonAnd frequently they were forced to pay quartering money for more men than were in reality ‘cessed on them.’
Lay Morals|Robert Louis Stevenson
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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