How does the word sound?
History of this Word
"ess" is from "issa" (female) spoken by people of Greece starting about 1000 B.C.
Notes
In this sense, it is a word added to another word to form a new word.
More words with this suffix,
authoress
heiress
anchoress
benefactress
Definition
A word ending that indicates woman or girl. Created by people to expand meaning of words. Can be added to the end of many words.
Examples of how the word is used
| She won the best supporting actress award. |
| Cases of lionesses showing maternal affection for animals they would normally see as prey are not unprecedented. |