Find the longest suffix among the ones specified
        and perform the required action.

def replace_suffixes_1(self, word):
        """
        Find the longest suffix among the ones specified
        and perform the required action.
        """
        length = len(word)

        if word.endswith("sses"):
            return word[:-2]

        elif word.endswith("ied") or word.endswith("ies"):
            word = word[:-3]
            if len(word) == 1:
                word += 'ie'
            else:
                word += 'i'
            return word

        # This ensures that words like conspicous stem properly
        elif word.endswith('us') or word.endswith('ss'):
            return word

        # From spec: 'delete if the preceding word part contains a vowel
        # not immediately before the s (so gas and this retain the s,
        # gaps and kiwis lose it)
        elif word[length - 1] == 's':
            for letter in word[:-2]:
                if letter in self.vowels:
                    return word[:-1]

        return word