fess

or fesse

[ fes ]

/ fɛs /

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noun Heraldry.

an ordinary in the form of a broad horizontal band across the middle of an escutcheon.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

false

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Origin of fess

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English fes(se), veece, fesshe, from Old French, ultimately from Latin fascia fascia

Words nearby fess

fervour, Fès, fescennine, fescue, fescue foot, fess, fesse, Fessenden, fesse point, fess point, fest

Other definitions for fess (2 of 3)

fess²

[ fes ]

/ fɛs /

Verb Phrases

fess up, Informal. to admit or concede, especially freely.

Origin of fess

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; shortening of confess

Other definitions for fess (3 of 3)

fess³

[ fes ]

/ fɛs /

noun Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.

a teacher.

Also fes·sor

[fes-er] /ˈfɛs ər/ .

Origin of fess

First recorded in 1905–10; shortening of professor

How to use fess in a sentence

Yele Haiti did fess up to paying you $100,000 for a benefit concert in Monaco.
Wyclef Jean Talks Lauryn Hill, the Yele Haiti Controversy, and Chris Christie|Marlow Stern|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In Britain, Prime Minister David Cameron asks British blokes to fess up about their fantasies—for the good of the children.
Britain’s Idiotic “Opt-In” Porn Ban|Brendan O’Neill|November 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
After initial denials, Quayle was eventually forced to fess up to composing the salacious posts.
Kate Upton’s Congressman Uncle and More Scandalous Political Ties|Ben Jacobs|February 15, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Yes, McGwire did finally fess up during an interview with Bob Costas in 2010.
Barry Bonds' Federal Steroids Case Was a Travesty|Buzz Bissinger|April 3, 2011|DAILY BEAST

This makes the third date a natural moment to fess up about any contagious diseases.
Third-Date Confessions|Hannah Seligson|May 20, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Ensigned on the top as before all betwixt a decrescent and a star in fess or.
A Complete Guide to Heraldry|Arthur Charles Fox-Davies
That's easy enough to say, McLean; but ten to one you've got some snap picked out for you already, now 'fess up, ain't you?
The Strength of Gideon and Other Stories|Paul Laurence Dunbar
If wed done something perfectly mean and putrid Id say fess up and take the medicine, but we havent.
Left Half Harmon|Ralph Henry Barbour
I have seen an imperfect drawing of the arms, Party per fess, a goblet transpierced with a dagger.
Notes & Queries, No. 27. Saturday, May 4, 1850|Various
Of course I thought that maybe Id ought to fess up that I wasnt meor, rather, youand let some one else kick.
The Turner Twins|Ralph Henry Barbour

British Dictionary definitions for fess

fess

/ (fɛs) /

verb

(intr foll by up) informal, mainly US to make a confession

Word Origin for fess

C19: shortened from confess

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