des

¹

[ dey ]

preposition

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

DES

²

abbreviation for

1. diethylstilbestrol.

-des

³

1. a plural suffix appearing in loanwords from Greek:

   proboscides.

DES

abbreviation for

1. Department of Education and Science

DES

/ 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of des¹

< Greek, nominative plural of d- stem nouns

Example Sentences

The Florentine Renaissance artist, engineer and polymath made the most famous picture of all time, a painted poplar panel that hangs in virtual isolation in the Salle des États at Paris’ Louvre Museum.

From Los Angeles Times

The full ninth edition of the Dictionnaire de l’Académie Française was formally presented to President Macron this afternoon in the plush surroundings of the 17th century Collège des Quatre-Nations on the left bank of the Seine.

From BBC

The authenticity behind some of the old Comme des Garçons, Margiela — it spoke to me in a different way.

From Los Angeles Times

After starting her broadcasting career at Sky, she moved to ITV, deputising for Des Lynam on The Premiership, the channel's highlights show launched after they won the rights from the BBC between 2001 and 2004.

From BBC

"Des was very helpful - I used to ask a lot of questions about the little things that he did, and picked up some of his nuances," the former footballer said.

From BBC