Abbess Definition

ăbĭs
noun
The superior of a convent.
American Heritage
A woman who is head of an abbey of nuns.
Webster's New World
Used as a title for such a person.
American Heritage

A female superior or governess of a nunnery, or convent of nuns, having the same authority over the nuns which the abbots have over the monks. [First attested around 1150 to 1350]

The abbess was always after the nuns to keep the convent immaculately clean.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Abbess

Noun

Singular:
abbess
Plural:
abbesses, abesses

Origin of Abbess

  • From Middle English abbesse, from Old French abaesse, abeesse (French abbesse), from Late Latin abbatissa, feminine of abbas, abbatis (“abbot”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English abesse from Old French from Late Latin abbātissa from abbās abbāt- abbot abbot

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Abbess Sentence Examples

  • The special feature of the institute was that the abbess ruled the monks as well as the nuns.

  • And one ran quickly and told the good abbess, or mistress of the abbey, what strange thing had happened.

  • At the request of the abbess he became an inmate of the monastery.

  • She then went to Ely where she also became abbess.

  • In the manor of the abbess of Shaftesbury were 111 houses and 151 burgesses; here 42 houses had been totally destroyed since St Edward's reign.

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Words Starting With

AABABB

Words Ending With

SSSESS

Unscrambles

abbess

Words Starting With A and Ending With S

Starts With A & Ends With SStarts With AB & Ends With SStarts With A & Ends With SS

Word Length

6 Letter Words6 Letter Words Starting With A6 Letter Words Ending With S