subs. (common).—1.  An abbreviation of ‘expenses.’

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  1871.  Fun, 4 Nov. ‘The Policeman’s Complaint.’

        Nay oft I’m told I’ve been deceived,
  And of my X’S I’m bereaved;
So on the whole I muchly grieved
  By information I received.

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  1883.  Referee, 18 March, p. 3, col. 3. The piece was ready, but the ‘pieces’ were not, and without the EXES Morton would not allow the gas to be lighted or the curtain to go up. It was a case of no pay no play.

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  1890.  MONTAGU WILLIAMS, Leaves of a Life, I., p. 153. He was out for a spree at the races, and I suppose he thought he’d like to pay his EXES.

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  2.  (colloquial).—An abbreviation of ‘ex-officials,’ ‘ex-ministers,’ and so forth. As in TOM MOORE’S ‘We X’S have proved ourselves not to be wise.’

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