abbess
pronunciation
How to pronounce abbess in British English:
UK [ˈæbes]
How to pronounce abbess in American English:
US [ˈæbɪs]
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- Noun:
- the superior of a group of nuns
Word Origin
- abbess (n.)
- c. 1300, abbese, from Old French abbesse, from Late Latin abbatissa, fem. of abbas (see abbot). Replaced earlier abbotess.
Antonym
Example
- 1. The superior of an abbey is called an abbess .
- 2. The abbess is not alone .
- 3. I don 't know how much the abbess told you .
- 4. The abbess gave the little boy some money .
- 5. Typical of western monasticism were the abbeys , self-contained communities of monks ruled by an abbot or of nuns ruled by an abbess .