ess

noun
\ ˈes How to pronounce ess (audio) \

Definition of ess

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the letter s
2 : something resembling the letter S in shape especially : an S-shaped curve in a road

Definition of -ess (Entry 2 of 2)

: female giantess

Examples of ess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Elliott and Truex were back in front for the restart on Lap 66, but Truex challenged right off the green flag, the two exchanging bumps speeding up through the esses, but Elliott never relinquished the lead. John Kekis, BostonGlobe.com, "Chase Elliott wins at Watkins Glen for second straight year," 4 Aug. 2019 The Supra manages to be both stable in long sweepers and agile in esses that force the suspension to load and unload side-to-side. Ezra Dyer, Popular Mechanics, "With the 2020 GR Supra, Toyota Gets In Touch With Its Fun Side," 12 May 2019 Each busin ess has ownership ties to Mr. Ruderman or a separate Ruderman family trust, according to the complaint. Peg Brickley, WSJ, "SEC Accuses Former Playgirl Magazine Owner of Defrauding Investors," 29 Aug. 2018 Day One Arrive in Istanbul, where you will be met at the gate of the aircraft by our VIP host/ess with a name sign. Karen Fedorko Sefer, Town & Country, "How to Plan a Trip to Istanbul," 5 Oct. 2016 Other common menu mispronunciations include espresso (it’s ess, not ex) and pho (fuh), the Vietnamese dish many mistakenly call foe. Julie Jargon, WSJ, "I’ll Have a Merlot With That Dish I Can’t Pronounce," 15 Sep. 2017 Through Lime Rock’s alternate Uphill section—a hard right at 35 mph, then full throttle up two steep ess bends—the TT RS is more neutral in these sharp transitions, where the RS3 can fall out of line. Clifford Atiyeh, Car and Driver, "Fives Alive! We Track the 2018 Audi TT RS and RS3," 3 Aug. 2017 Day One Arrive in Istanbul, where you will be met at the gate of the aircraft by our VIP host/ess with a name sign. Karen Fedorko Sefer, Town & Country, "How to Plan a Trip to Istanbul," 5 Oct. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ess.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of ess

Noun

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for ess

Noun suffix

Middle English -esse, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin -issa, from Greek

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More Definitions for ess

\ əs\

Kids Definition of -ess

: female goddess