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English Dictionary
Definition of “-ess”
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Word Frequency
No usage level data available-ess
Definitions
suffix forming nouns
- indicating a female ⇒
waitress
,lioness
The suffix -ess in such words as poetess, authoress is now almost invariably regarded as disparaging or extremely old-fashioned; a gender-neutral
term poet, author is preferred
Word Origin
via Old French from Late Latin -issa, from GreekSponsored Links
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