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fess

1
or fesse

[ fes ]

noun

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


fess

2

[ fes ]

fess

3

[ fes ]

noun

, Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.
  1. a teacher.

fess

/ fɛs /

verb

  1. informal.
    intrfoll byup to make a confession
“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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of fess1

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

Origin of fess2

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

Origin of fess3

First recorded in 1905–10; shortening of professor
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Word History and Origins

Origin of fess1

C19: shortened from confess
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Example Sentences

Those who refused were sent to an administrator’s office to call their parents and fess up to breaking the rule.

Did she fess up to her IG handle?

This wasn’t the time to fess up that something horribly wrong was happening.

From Salon

"But as ever with Banksy - you never quite know, until he fesses up by posting it on his website."

From BBC

He added that “unless someone fesses up to using the phone, the police don’t consider it to be a factor.”

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