-es definition

<suffix>

1. A suffix used to form plurals of nouns ending in sibilant sounds (such words in -e dropping the e) (kisses; cases; boxes; churches) and of a few ending in -o (potatoes; heroes).

2. Forming the 3rd person singular present of verbs ending in sibilant sounds (such words in -e dropping the e) and ending in -o (but not -oo) (goes; places; pushes).

Origin: variant of -s.

(06 Feb 2009)