From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
S \S\ ([e^]s),
the nineteenth letter of the English alphabet, is a
consonant, and is often called a sibilant, in allusion to its
hissing sound. It has two principal sounds; one a mere
hissing, as in sack, this; the other a vocal hissing (the
same as that of z), as in is, wise. Besides these it
sometimes has the sounds of sh and zh, as in sure, measure.
It generally has its hissing sound at the beginning of words,
but in the middle and at the end of words its sound is
determined by usage. In a few words it is silent, as in isle,
d['e]bris. With the letter h it forms the digraph sh. See
Guide to pronunciation, [sect][sect] 255-261.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Both the form and the name of the letter S are derived
from the Latin, which got the letter through the Greek
from the Phoenician. The ultimate origin is Egyptian. S
is etymologically most nearly related to c, z, t, and
r; as, in ice, OE. is; E. hence, OE. hennes; E. rase,
raze; erase, razor; that, G. das; E. reason, F. raison,
L. ratio; E. was, were; chair, chaise (see C, Z, T, and
R.).
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
-s \-s\
1. [OE. es, AS. as.] The suffix used to form the plural of
most words; as in roads, elfs, sides, accounts.
[1913 Webster]
2. [OE. -s, for older -th, AS. -[eth].] The suffix used to
form the third person singular indicative of English
verbs; as in falls, tells, sends.
[1913 Webster]
3. An adverbial suffix; as in towards, needs, always, --
originally the genitive, possesive, ending. See {-'s}.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
-'s \-'s\ [OE. -es, AS. -es.] The suffix used to form the
possessive singular of nouns; as, boy's; man's.
[1913 Webster] 's \'s\
A contraction for is or (colloquially) for has. "My heart's
subdued." --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
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