Ess
/ɛs/noun
The name of the letter S, or a curve resembling its shape.
Did you know?The word ess belongs to the same ancient linguistic family as forms of “to be,” including Latin es and English is, although the letter’s visual ancestry ultimately comes through older alphabetic traditions.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Semitic
Proto-Canaanite
𐤔
“A letter associated with the sound /š/, conventionally linked with a tooth-like symbol”
Ancient Greek
Greek
sigma
“The name of the Greek letter corresponding broadly to the sibilant sound”
Classical Latin
Latin
es
“The name of the letter S”
Old French
Old French
esse
“The name of the letter S, inherited from Latin”
Middle English
English
esse
“The letter S or an S-shaped figure”
Modern English
English
ess
“The name of the letter S, also used for an S-shaped curve”