To cease.To neglect a legal duty.To impose a tax upon; assess.n. A rate or tax; a public- imposition.n. In Scotland, the land-tax; a permanent tax fixed at £47,954 per annum, to be levied out of the land-rent of Scotland forever, subject, however, to a power of redemption.n. Estimation; measure.n. Luck: used chiefly in the imprecation bad cess to you (it, them, etc.).