Correct spelling, explanation: the word abscess has its roots in Latin abscedere, which explains the way it’s spelled until today. Due to the passage of time and adaptation to English spelling, the word lost the characteristic Latin ending -dere and exchanged it for -ss, therefore creating abscess.

Definition of abscess:
Noun
1. A swelling, usually around a wound, filled with pus.
I bit the inside of my cheek and now I have a huge painful abscess there.
I used to scratch my legs so much that there were open wounds and abscesses.

Incorrect spelling, explanation: abcess is incorrect because of the history of the word. The Latin base word – abscedere – has both s and c. While it happens that the vowels shift due to their sound, the consonants tend to stay in their place even when the word undergoes changes.

Incorrect spelling

Incorrect spelling

Incorrect spelling

Incorrect spelling