cessn.1
/sɛs/, U.S. /sɛs/, Scottish English /sɛs/ 1. An assessment, tax, or levy: in various spec. applications.
a. A rate levied by local authority and for local purposes. Now superseded in general English use by rate, but frequent dialect; in Ireland it is still the official term. church cess n. see quot. 1868.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > local or municipal taxes or dues > [noun] > rates
cess1531
rate1601
county rate1665
rating1859
borough-rate1863
1531 Act 22 Hen. VIII c. 3 §1 Diuers and sundry Cesses, Scots, and Taxes.
1642 in J. Barmby Churchwardens' Accts. Pittington (1888) 104 Received more for a cease of 2d. pound, 19s. 1d. 0b.
a1745 J. Swift Wks. (1841) II. 49 Unless when the parish cess was gathered.
1827 H. Hallam Constit. Hist. Eng. II. xviii. 733 A cess or permanent composition for every plough-land.
1850 H. Martineau Hist. Eng. during 30 Years' Peace II. iv. ix. 115 The Tories were disposed..to uphold the dues of the Church even to the last penny of church-cess.
1863 Possibil. Creation 93 We have our world lit up regularly without any lamp cess being levied.
1868 Pall Mall Gaz. 29 June 3/1 The Act of the 3 and 4 Will. IV, c. 37..abolished..the church vestry cess, as church rates in Ireland were then called.
1877 F. Ross et al. Gloss. Words Holderness (E.D.S.) Cess, a parochial or municipal rate.
b. Scotland. The land tax.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > tax > types of tax > [noun] > land tax
land-gavelc1000
Danegeld1086
tallagec1290
tallagie1444
tollage1531
Dane-money1570
extent1597
geld1610
cess1662
land-tax1689
supply1689
single tax1879
1662 Sc. Acts (1820) VII. 409 Act in favour of [the Earls of Queensberry and Annandale] for payment of a moneths Cesse advanced by them for the Shire of Dumfreis.
1678 Sc. Acts (1820) VIII. 221
1701 W. Paterson Proposals Council of Trade 133 All extraordinary Taxes as Cess, Pole, Hearth-Money, and such like grievous and unequal Dutys.
1702 London Gaz. No. 3824/2 An Act [Scotland] for a Supply of Ten Months and half's Cess upon Land-Rents, received the Royal Assent.
c1706 in Sc. Pasquils (1868) 388 From paying us our Darien Costs, By laying on cess, and new imposts.
1746–7 Act 20 Geo. II c. 50 §2 Their respective proportions of His Majesty's cess or land tax.
c. India. A tax levied for a specific object; often with prefixed word defining the object.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > tax > [noun] > levied for specific object
locality1641
cess1817
mutton1881
1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India II. v. i. 309 With respect to the cesses or arbitrary taxes.
1841 M. Elphinstone Hist. India I. ii. ii. 133 Various taxes and cesses, some falling directly on the land, and others more or less circuitously affecting the cultivator.
1883 Contemp. Rev. Oct. 584 Imposing additional taxes..such as the road cess, the irrigation cess, the public works cess, and the education cess.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > military exactions > [noun]
coynye1449
scutagec1460
spear silver1496
conduct-money1512
coat-money1557
bonaght1568
cessc1571
cosheringc1571
cessheryc1575
quartering-money1580
sessa1581
coshery1587
coatc1630
ship-money1636
shipping-money1640
ship-scot1640
conduct1644
trophy money1664
trophy tax1701
watch-mail1710
Saladine tax1728
c1571 E. Campion Two Bks. Hist. Ireland (1963) ii. x. 137 The abuses whereof with cesse and soldyors doo so impoverisshe and alienate the nedie fermors from us.
1587 J. Hooker Chron. Ireland 144/2 in Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) II Cesse is..a prerogatiue of the prince, to impose vpon the countrie a certeine proportion of all kind of vittels for men and horsse, to be deliuered at a reasonable price called the queens price, to all and euerie such souldiors as she is contented to be at charge withall, and so much as is thought competent for the lord deputies house.
1596 E. Spenser View State Ireland 56.
1630 R. Norton tr. W. Camden Hist. Princesse Elizabeth ii. 82 Ceass..is an exaction of victuals at a certaine rate or price..for the maintance of the Lord Deputies houshold, and the garison Souldiers.
1809 T. E. Tomlins Jacob's Law-dict. Cesse or cease in Ireland..for soldiers in garrison.
ΘΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > evaluation, estimation, appraisal > [noun]
weenc888
rightnessOE
steemc1330
sight1362
witc1374
emprisea1393
reputation?c1400
apprizingc1449
nick?a1450
vail1471
countc1475
opinionc1480
estimationc1522
meting1548
reckoning1548
valuation1548
computation1558
account1583
cess1588
esteem1598
appreciation1605
resentiment1606
repute1610
ratea1616
assessmenta1626
estimate1637
vote1639
supputation1643
compute1646
value1651
resentment1655
contemplation1673
critique1798
appraisement1808
appraisal1817
viewa1854
sizing up1967
chit1989
1588 ‘M. Marprelate’ Oh read ouer D. Iohn Bridges: Epitome sig. Fv This..ouerthroweth the puritans out of all cesse.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 ii. i. 7 Poore iade is wroong in the withers, out of all cesse . View more context for this quotation
Compounds
cess-gatherer, cess-payer; cess-tax n. = 2.
Π
1877 E. Peacock Gloss. Words Manley & Corringham, Lincs. Cess-getherer, one who gathers a local tax. ‘John Lockwood, th' cess-getherer's been for th' Court o' Sewers rate.’
1880 Edinb. Rev. Jan. 135 (Ireland) The associated cess-payers are not chosen by election.
1882 J. Taylor Sc. Covenanters 180 Renwick was brought to trial for teaching that it was unlawful to pay the cess-tax.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
† cessn.2
Obsolete.
= decease n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > [noun]
hensithOE
qualmOE
bale-sithea1000
endingc1000
fallOE
forthsitheOE
soulingOE
life's endOE
deathOE
hethensithc1200
last end?c1225
forthfarec1275
dying1297
finec1300
partingc1300
endc1305
deceasec1330
departc1330
starving1340
passingc1350
latter enda1382
obita1382
perishingc1384
carrion1387
departing1388
finishmentc1400
trespassement14..
passing forthc1410
sesse1417
cess1419
fininga1425
resolutiona1425
departisona1450
passagea1450
departmentc1450
consummation?a1475
dormition1483
debt to (also of) naturea1513
dissolutionc1522
expirationa1530
funeral?a1534
change1543
departure1558
last change1574
transmigration1576
dissolving1577
shaking of the sheets?1577
departance1579
deceasure1580
mortality1582
deceasing1591
waftage1592
launching1599
quietus1603
doom1609
expire1612
expiring1612
period1613
defunctiona1616
Lethea1616
fail1623
dismissiona1631
set1635
passa1645
disanimation1646
suffering1651
abition1656
Passovera1662
latter (last) end1670
finis1682
exitus1706
perch1722
demission1735
demise1753
translation1760
transit1764
dropping1768
expiry1790
departal1823
finish1826
homegoing1866
the last (also final, great) round-up1879
snuffing1922
fade-out1924
thirty1929
appointment in Samarra1934
dirt nap1981
big chill1987
1419 Will of Stephen Thomas (P.R.O.: PROB. 11/2) f. 258 After þe cesse of her.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
† cessn.3
Obsolete.
1. Cessation, interruption.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ceasing > [noun]
lissc1000
ceasec1330
stintc1330
stinting1338
ceasinga1340
discontinuancea1398
cessationa1400
leaving-off?a1425
surceasingc1435
disusage1475
stop1483
staying1546
discontinuation1572
discontinuing1582
surcease1590
stintance1605
cessure1607
desisting1607
avocationa1617
desistance1632
sistencea1639
surceasementa1641
supersession1648
dispractice1673
breaking-off1683
estoppage1701
cess1703
cesser1809
shutdown1857
stoppage1865
shut-off1889
sign-off1919
the world > action or operation > ceasing > temporary cessation of activity or operation > [noun]
steadc1000
leathc1175
abiding1340
broklinga1400
pausation1422
pausing1440
interceasingc1450
suspensing?1504
suspending1524
intermission1526
leathing1535
suspensationc1571
intercession1572
suspense1584
abeyance1593
suspension1603
recession1606
interruption1607
recess1620
intercision1625
intercessation1659
intermittency1662
pretermission1677
break1689
cess1703
intermittence1796
1703 D. Defoe Orig. Power People Misc. 135 If Power at any time meets with a Cess, if Government and Thrones become Vacant, to this Original all Power..returns.
2. = cesser n. 3.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > office > withdrawing from or vacating office > [noun]
resignationa1387
surceasingc1435
resign1457
cessationa1464
dimissiona1513
demission1577
cession1608
avoidance1642
retirement1648
cess1689
cesser1689
resigning1743
retiring1808
retiral1840
inkyo1871
society > occupation and work > lack of work > [noun] > action or fact of vacating office
cessationa1464
vacance1579
cession1608
cess1689
cesser1689
vacating1855
vacation1860
1689 Proposals in 7th Coll. Papers Present Juncture Affairs Eng. 1 This is a Cess of that nature that requires a Judgment to be made upon it.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
† cessn.4
Obsolete exc. dialect.
1. A peatbog; also a piece of peat, a turf.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > marsh, bog, or swamp > [noun] > peat-bog
turf-graft1313
turbary1363
peat mire1431
peat moss1505
peatbog1550
flow-mossc1565
cess1636
peat marsh1723
yarpha1805
peat moor1821
flow bog1831
raised bog1891
mire1946
raised mire1968
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > earth or soil > kind of earth or soil > [noun] > organic soil > peat or peaty soil > piece of
turfc1300
cess1847
1636 R. James Iter Lancastrense (1845) 308 Ye deepe Lowe spongie mosses yet remembrance keepe Of Noah's flood: on numbers infinite Of firre trees swaines doe in their cesses light.
1847 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 8 i. 100 This substance..is dug and dried into small sods called ‘turfs’ or ‘cesses’ for fuel.
2. (a) ‘A space of ground lying between a drain or river and the foot of its bank’ (E. Peacock N.-W. Linc. Gloss., E.D.S.); a haugh. (b) ‘The foreshore of a drain or river’ (E. Peacock N.-W. Linc. Gloss., E.D.S.).
ΚΠ
1874 Ancholme Navigation Notice in E. Peacock N.-W. Linc. Gloss. (at cited word) The occupiers of the land adjoining the cesses of the Navigation..are authorized to discharge all persons trespassing thereon.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
cessn.5
/sɛs/, U.S. /sɛs/, Irish English /sɛs/ Anglo-Irish.
In phrase bad cess to = ‘bad luck to, evil befall’.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > malediction > oaths > [interjection] > oaths other than religious or obscene > imprecations
woeOE
dahetc1290
confoundc1330
foul (also shame) fall ——c1330
sorrow on——c1330
in the wanianda1352
wildfirea1375
evil theedomc1386
a pestilence on (also upon)c1390
woe betide you (also him, her, etc.)c1390
maldathaita1400
murrainc1400
out ona1415
in the wild waning worldc1485
vengeance?a1500
in a wanion1549
with a wanion1549
woe worth1553
a plague on——a1566
with a wanion to?c1570
with a wanyand1570
bot1584
maugre1590
poxa1592
death1593
rot1594
rot on1595
cancro1597
pax1604
pize on (also upon)1605
vild1605
peascod1606
cargo1607
confusion1608
perditiona1616
(a) pest upon1632
deuce1651
stap my vitals1697
strike me blind, dumb, lucky (if, but—)1697
stop my vitals1699
split me (or my windpipe)1700
rabbit1701
consume1756
capot me!1760
nick me!1760
weary set1788
rats1816
bad cess to1859
curse1885
hanged1887
buggeration1964
1859 Punch 17 Dec. Carlisle and Russell—bad cess to their clan!
1860 S. Lover Legends & Stories Ireland (ed. 10) 313 Bad cess to you, can't you say what you're bid.
1887 H. Caine Deemster II. xxviii. 267 Bad sess to the women, the idle, shoulderin' craythurs.
1995 E. Brophy Sunday Tribune 6 Aug. in B. Share Slanguage 9/2 ‘Dinny : Well, bad cess to them anywa', sure they haven't even topped the TAMs once yet and we're [the TV serial Glenroe] always doing it!’
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
† cessv.1
/sɛs/, U.S. /sɛs/, Irish English /sɛs/ Obsolete exc. Historical.
1. transitive. To determine the amount of (a tax, fine, or contribution; also of rent, and the prices at which articles are to be sold); = assess v. 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > tax > taxation > levy (a tax) [verb (transitive)] > fix amount of tax
assess1447
modify1448
sess1467
cess1523
assize1525
stent1633
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccclxxxvii. 663 As soone as the kyng was departed fro Paris, the commons rose in harnesse, and slewe all those that had ceassed the aydes.
1531–2 Act 23 Hen. VIII c. 4 §5 The same rates and prices to be named and cessed by them and euery of them by their discrecions.
1584 Copie of Let. conc. Erle of Leycester 69 Compelling the tennauntes to pay him new rent, & what he cesseth.
c1613 Minute Acct. People of Anglesea (1860) 21 In some parts of the countrey, this mite was never cessed; in other parts it was cessed, but never leavied.
1764 R. Burn Hist. Poor Laws 73 To sess, tax, and limit upon every such obstinate person, what sum the said person shall pay weekly.
2. To impose (taxation, a fine, etc.) upon (a person or community); = assess v. 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > tax > taxation > levy (a tax) [verb (transitive)]
taxc1290
araisec1386
levy1388
raise1389
cess1495
fine1570
cut1596
impose1600
1495 Act 11 Hen. VII c. 4 Suche fynes and amerciamentis as upon them shalbe cessid.
1612 in J. A. Picton City of Liverpool: Select. Munic. Rec. (1883) I. 171 Diverse fynes and Amerciaments cessed upon him in Mr. Maior's Court.
3. Ireland. To impose (soldiers) upon a community who are to support them at a fixed rate.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military organization > logistics > quartering > quarter (troops) [verb (transitive)] > on someone
harbourc1330
cess1612
lay1612
quarter1649
1612 J. Davies Discouerie Causes Ireland 190 Then was there no mean to maintain the Army, but by Sessing the soldiers vppon the Subiect, as the Irish were wont to impose their Bonaught.
1880 J. H. Burton Hist. Reign Queen Anne II. xvii. 178 None..shall cosher, lodge, or cess themselves upon the inhabitants.
4. To subject (a person, community, or property) to a contribution, tax, or fine; to rate, to tax; = assess v. 3. Also (Ireland) To subject to military exactions or requisitions; cf. cess n.1 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > tax > taxation > levy (a tax) [verb (transitive)] > tax (a person or thing)
layc1330
tailc1330
taxc1330
scot1432
patise1436
sess1465
task1483
assessa1513
cessa1513
lot1543
toust1565
imposea1618
talliate1762
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > military exactions > subject to military exactions [verb (transitive)]
coynye1449
cess1856
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. xxxv He prysonyd theym, and after sessyd theym at Greuouse Fynys.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ci. 121 Yf I wolde sore cease you, ye shulde pay me xxx. or xl. M. scutes.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccclxxxvii. 664 With their owne good wylles they ceased theymselfe to paye wekely a tenne thousande florence.
1616 B. Jonson Epicœne iv. v, in Wks. I. 578 A man of two thousand a yeere, is not sess'd at so many weapons, as he has on. View more context for this quotation
1652 T. May Old Couple in I. Reed Dodsley's Sel. Coll. Old Plays (1780) X. 504 I shall be..sess'd More to the poor.
1738 Hist. View Court of Exchequer ii. 21 If he did not come at all, then he was cessed for all the Lands he held.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. II. vii The English garrisons cessed and pillaged the farmers of Meath and Dublin.
5. To estimate officially the taxable value of (property, land, etc.); to rate; = assess v. 4.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > tax > taxation > levy (a tax) [verb (transitive)] > value for taxation
assize1523
value1526
cess1598
mise1673
assess1809
1598 J. Stow Suruay of London 93 To the Fifteene it is ceased at ix. pound.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
† cessv.2
Obsolete.
1. intransitive. To cease to perform a legal duty: cf. cessavit n.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > legal obligation > be under legal obligation [verb (intransitive)] > cease to perform a legal duty
cess1642
1642 tr. J. Perkins Profitable Bk. v. §374. 162 If there bee Lord, Mesne, and Tenant, and the Tenant doth cesse.
1642 tr. J. Perkins Profitable Bk. v. §389. 168 If..the tenant take a wife and afterwards cesseth.
1670 T. Blount Νομο-λεξικον: Law-dict. at Cessor Where it is said the Tenant cesseth..the Tenant ceaseth to do what he ought.
1741 T. Robinson Common Law of Kent ii. vi. 253 If a Tenant cessed to pay his Rent for two Years.
2. transitive. To cede, give up, surrender.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > relinquishing > relinquish or give up [verb (transitive)]
forsakec893
forlet971
to reach upOE
agiveOE
yield?c1225
uptake1297
up-yield1297
yield1297
deliverc1300
to-yielda1375
overgivec1384
grant1390
forbeara1400
livera1400
forgoc1400
upgive1415
permit1429
quit1429
renderc1436
relinquish1479
abandonc1485
to hold up?1499
enlibertyc1500
surrender1509
cess1523
relent1528
to cast up?1529
resignate1531
uprender1551
demit1563
disclaim1567
to fling up1587
to give up1589
quittance1592
vail1593
enfeoff1598
revoke1599
to give off1613
disownc1620
succumb1632
abdicate1633
delinquish1645
discount1648
to pass away1650
to turn off1667
choke1747
to jack up1870
chuck up (the sponge)1878
chuckc1879
unget1893
sling1902
to jack in1948
punt1966
to-leave-
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccxii. 259 They [are] to transport, cesse, and leaue eche kyng to other perpetuelly, al the right that they ought to haue in all these sayd thynges.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccxii. 258 We transport and sese all the right that we might have in any of these thynges.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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n.11531
n.21419n.31689
n.41636
n.51859v.11495v.21523