des

¹ American  

[dey] / deɪ /

preposition

1. used in French names as a contraction of de and the article les: François des Adrets.

---

DES ² American  

abbreviation

1. diethylstilbestrol.

---

-des ³ American  

1. a plural suffix appearing in loanwords from Greek.

   proboscides.

---

DES British  

abbreviation

1. Department of Education and Science

---

DES Scientific  

/ dē′ē-ĕs′ /

1. Short for diethylstilbestrol. A synthetic nonsteroidal substance having estrogenic properties and prescribed between 1938 and 1971 to pregnant women with a history of miscarriage and other problems of pregnancy. It is no longer used due to the incidence of certain vaginal cancers and other disorders in the daughters of women so treated.

---

Etymology

Origin of -des

< Greek, nominative plural of d- stem nouns

Example Sentences

At Anfield, Liverpool's xG was 1.94 compared with the 0.18 at the Parc des Princes last week.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

The slow-motion big-screen replay, showed Moody's head rocked back by the impact, drawing winces and groans from fans inside Parc des Princes in Paris.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

French daily Le Monde said the departure of des Cars became "inevitable" following the burglary as well as trade union strikes pressing for more recruitment, pay and better maintenance of the museum.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

On Tuesday, des Cars sent her resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, which was accepted, following a string of scandals including the brazen theft of French crown jewels valued at $100 million in October.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

In her mind she walks a path in the Jardin des Plantes, the air golden, the wind green, the long fingers of willows drifting across her shoulders.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr