-ess — English Dictionary

Suffix

1. Used to form female equivalents.

   Usage

   • morpheme

   Synonyms

   -a-ette-ine-ressshe--trix

   Antonyms

   he-

   Examples

   actor + -ess → actress

   chanter + -ess → chantress

   More examples (4)

   duke + -ess → duchess (“female ruler of a duchy”)

   god + -ess → goddess

   lion + -ess → lioness

   prince + -ess → princess (“daughter of monarch (holding this title in her own right, who would become a queen regnant); the female equivalent of a prince”)

2. The wife of.

   Usage

   • morpheme

   Examples

   alderman + -ess → aldermaness (“alderman’s wife”)

   duke + -ess → duchess (“duke’s wife”)

   More examples (4)

   mayor + -ess → mayoress (“mayor’s wife”)

   priest + -ess → priestess (“priest’s wife”)

   prince + -ess → princess (“prince’s wife (who would become a queen consort)”)

   squire + -ess → squiress (“squire’s wife”)

Suffix

1. Used to form nouns from adjectives.

   Usage

   • idiomatic
   • morpheme

Suffix

1. Used to form proper nouns from nouns.

   Usage

   • idiomatic
   • morpheme