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An English Grammar
img img An English Grammar img Chapter 8 ess is added to many words without changing the ending of the masculine; as,-
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Chapter 8 ess is added to many words without changing the ending of the masculine; as,-

baron-baroness

count-countess

lion-lioness

Jew-Jewess

heir-heiress

host-hostess

priest-priestess

giant-giantess

Masculine ending dropped.

The masculine ending may be dropped before the feminine -ess is added; as,-

abbot-abbess

negro-negress

murderer-murderess

sorcerer-sorceress

Vowel dropped before adding -ess.

The feminine may discard a vowel which appears in the masculine; as in-

actor-actress

master-mistress

benefactor-benefactress

emperor-empress

tiger-tigress

enchanter-enchantress

Empress has been cut down from emperice (twelfth century) and emperesse (thirteenth century), from Latin imperatricem.

Master and mistress were in Middle English maister-maistresse, from the Old French maistre-maistresse.

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