des

¹ American  

[dey] / deɪ /

preposition

1. used in French names as a contraction of de and the article les: François des Adrets.

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DES ² American  

abbreviation

1. diethylstilbestrol.

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-des ³ American  

1. a plural suffix appearing in loanwords from Greek.

   proboscides.

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DES British  

abbreviation

1. Department of Education and Science

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DES Scientific  

/ dē′ē-ĕs′ /

1. Short for diethylstilbestrol. A synthetic nonsteroidal substance having estrogenic properties and prescribed between 1938 and 1971 to pregnant women with a history of miscarriage and other problems of pregnancy. It is no longer used due to the incidence of certain vaginal cancers and other disorders in the daughters of women so treated.

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Etymology

Origin of -des

< Greek, nominative plural of d- stem nouns

Example Sentences

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who met families of the Rue des Rosiers victims last year, said he had promised them everything would be done to put the suspects on trial.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

Go to the Marché des Enfants Rouges in the 3rd arrondissement in Paris for fresh oysters and a cheese plate, or to the Marché des Carmes in Toulouse for some lamb chops and fried scallops.

From Barron's • Mar. 8, 2026

The slow-motion big-screen replay, showed Moody's head rocked back by the impact, drawing winces and groans from fans inside Parc des Princes in Paris.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

Laurence des Cars, the first woman to lead the Louvre, said she no longer felt able to fully carry out her responsibilities because of a lack of clarity over priorities and resources.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

Twenty minutes to get out of the Place des Hirondelles, and perhaps another hour to get into hiding before the all-clear.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein