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abbess definition

ab·bess (ab′əs)

noun

a woman who is head of an abbey of nuns

Etymology: ME abbes < OFr abesse < LL(Ec) abbatissa, fem. of abbas, abbot

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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