abigail
noun
a lady's maid.
abigail
1 American
[ab-i-geyl]
/ ˈæb ɪˌgeɪl /
noun
Abigail
2
American
[ab-i-geyl]
/ ˈæb ɪˌgeɪl /
noun
-
(in the Bible) the wife of Nabal and later of David.
-
a first name: from a Hebrew word meaning “joy of the father.”
Abigail
British
/ ˈæbɪˌɡeɪl /
noun
Etymology
Origin of abigail
1645–55; after Abigail, name of attendant in play The Scornful Lady (1610), by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And Toinon, foster-sister and confidential abigail, had absolutely betrothed herself in secret to this abandoned wretch!
From The Maid of Honour, Vol. 1 (of 3) A Tale of the Dark Days of France by Wingfield, Lewis
Had not the faithful abigail watched the pair for years?
From The Maid of Honour, Vol. 1 (of 3) A Tale of the Dark Days of France by Wingfield, Lewis
Starting, the abigail took up the parcel, went to a cupboard, selected a bottle from a row and mixed some of its contents with water.
From The Maid of Honour (Vol. 3 of 3) A Tale of the Dark Days of France by Wingfield, Lewis
Her abigail reported that Mrs. Gutheridge had a set of night curls for sleeping in.
From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary by Webster, Noah
Yes, that's just like it," said the insolent abigail; "nothing ever can content some people.
From Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. 1. No 1, June 1850 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
