cess en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /sɛs/
Etymology
For the first meaning below, the writings of Edmund Spenser, published 1633, point to a borrowing from Irish cís (“tax, tribute, cess, rent”), likely from Latin census. Other senses: Uncertain. Occurs in print at least as early as 1831, when Samuel Lover used the expression as one already long-established. He unambiguously stated the derivation of cess in the malediction bad cess to be an abbreviation of success. The OED speculated that it either was from success or from assessment meaning a military or governmental exaction. The verb is attested in Middle English (cessen).
Meanings
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(India, Ireland, UK) An assessed tax, duty, or levy; billeting.
Therefore it was proposed to levy a cess on local authorities which are entrusted with the duty of supplying water under the law by or under which they are constituted and on certain specified industries.
2006, The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Georg Thieme Verlag, page 76:The Goods and Services Tax (GST) overhaul will make cars cheaper this festive season across segments. Entry-level and mid-segment cars priced up to ₹14 lakh will see up to a 13% reduction in GST and cess, making them more attractive to a price-sensitive customer base. High-end cars with engines above 1200 cc are set to become 5–10% cheaper. Small cars that run on petrol, LPG and CNG with engines below 1200 cc, and diesel cars of up to 1500 cc and with a length under 4 metres will attract a GST of 18% instead of 28%. The cess of 1% and 3% will no longer be applicable.
2025 September 5, Jagriti Chandra, “Cars get cheaper, festive sales likely to hit top gear. Sub-4 metre cars with engines below 1,200 cc and 1,500 cc to attract 18% GST; dealers expect increased buyer interest in price-sensitive segments; bigger cars will invite a 40% GST, but removal of cess will boost net savings on purchase”, in The Hindu:‘For what cess or tallage comes these bandogs to Fitz Peascod Castle?’
1936, Norman Lindsay, The Flyaway Highway, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 93:The act provides for a levy of a cess on all coal and coke despatched from collieries in India, at such rate, not less than twenty-five paise and not more than fifty paise per ton, as may be fixed by the Central Government.
1967, G. R. Madan, Indian Social Problems, volume 2, →ISBN, page 225:EUDOX[US] But what is that which you call Cess? it is a Word sure unused amongst us here; therefore (I pray you) expound the same. IREN[EUS] Cess is none other than that which you yourself called Imposition, but is in a kind unacquainted perhaps unto you; for there are Cesses of sundry sorts: one is the Cessing of Soldiers upon the Countrey; [...] Another kind of Cess is, the imposing of Provisions for the Governours Housekeeping, [...]
1595-1596, Edmund Spenser, A View of the State of Ireland as it was in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth:
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(Ireland, UK, informal) Usually preceded by good or (more commonly) bad: luck or success.
"Bad cess may attend you, where are you scampering to, you rambunctious"—but she could go no farther; the tears burst from her, and she gave way, without farther resistance, to an explosion of grief.
1852 November, O’Hara Family, “Clough Fionn; or, The Stone of Destiny”, in The Dublin University Magazine, a Literary and Political Journal, volume XL, number CCXXXIX, Dublin: James McGlashan, […]; London: W[illia]m S[omerville] Orr and Company, →OCLC, chapter XI, page 557:It is good cess to feel the warmth and sincerity of this couple who fill the role of the Queen's representative in Canada.
1965, Canada Month:Bad cess to it, b'ys! Where's the blessed ting, at all, at all? Bad cess to it!
2004, Kevin O'Malley, Inside, →ISBN, page 37:Midland has had good cess with using minute commercials eight television stations, cited as one example of modernizing its advertising.
1962, News for Farmer Cooperatives, Information Office, Farm Credit Administration:
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(obsolete) Bound; measure.
The poor jade is wrung in the withers out of all cess.
c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| cesses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |