s

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noun

ˈes

plural s's or ss ˈe-səz How to pronounce s (audio)

often capitalized, often attributive

: the 19th letter of the English alphabet

: a graphic representation of this letter

: a speech counterpart of orthographic s

: a graphic device for reproducing the letter s

: one designated s especially as the 19th in order or class

[abbreviation for satisfactory]

: a grade rating a student's work as satisfactory

: one graded or rated with an S

: something shaped like the letter S

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abbreviation (1)

sabbath

saint

schilling

scruple

second; secondary

section

senate

series

shilling

[Latin signa] label

siemens

signor

sine

singular

small

smooth

snow

society

son

sou

south; southern

strange

subject

symmetrical

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abbreviation (2)

satisfactory

short

standard deviation of a sample

svedberg

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symbol

sulfur

-s

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plural noun suffix

after a voiceless consonant s,

after a voiced consonant or a vowel z

—used to form the plural of most nouns that do not end in s, z, sh, ch, or postconsonantal y

headsbooksboysbeliefs

, to form the plural of proper nouns that end in postconsonantal y

Marys

, and with or without a preceding apostrophe to form the plural of abbreviations, numbers, letters, and symbols used as nouns

MCsPhD's4sthe 1940's$sB's

compare -es entry 1

-s

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adverb suffix

—used to form adverbs denoting usual or repeated action or state

always at home Sundaysmornings he stops by the newsstand

-s

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verb suffix

—used to form the third person singular present of most verbs that do not end in s, z, sh, ch, or postconsonantal y

fallstakesplays

compare -es entry 2

Word History

Etymology

Plural noun suffix

Middle English -es, -s, from Old English -as, nominative & accusative plural ending of some masculine nouns; akin to Old Saxon -os

Adverb suffix

Middle English -es, -s, plural ending of nouns, from -es, genitive singular ending of nouns (functioning adverbially), from Old English -es

Verb suffix

Middle English (Northern & North Midland dialect) -es, from Old English (Northumbrian dialect) -es, -as, probably from Old English -es, -as, 2nd singular present indicative ending — more at -est

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

1 of 4 noun

ˈes

often capitalized

: the 19th letter of the English alphabet

: a grade rating a student's work as satisfactory

-s

2 of 4 noun plural suffix

after a voiceless consonant sound, z,

after a voiced consonant sound or a vowel sound

—used to form the plural of most nouns that do not end in s, z, sh, or ch or in y following a consonant

headsbooksboysbeliefs

, to form the plural of proper nouns that end in y following a consonant

Marys

, and with or without a preceding apostrophe to form the plural of abbreviations, numbers, letters, and symbols used as nouns

MCs4s#sB's

-s

3 of 4 adverb suffix

—used to form adverbs indicating usual or repeated action or state

at home Sundaysshops mornings

-s

4 of 4 verb suffix

—used to form the third person singular present of most verbs that do not end in s, z, sh, or ch or in y following a consonant