abbot

¹

[ab-uht]

noun

1. a man who is the head or superior, usually elected, of a monastery.

Abbot

²

[ab-uht]

noun

1. Charles Greeley, 1872–1973, U.S. astrophysicist.

2. Also Abbott a first name.

abbot

/ ˈæbət /

noun

1. the superior of an abbey of monks

Other Word Forms

• abbotship noun
• abbotcy noun
• subabbot noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of abbot¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, variant of abbat, from Latin abbāt- (stem of abbās ), from Greek, from Aramaic abbā; replacing Middle English, Old English abbod (compare Old High German abbat ), from Late Latin abbād- for abbāt-; Abba ¹ ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of abbot¹

Old English abbod, from Church Latin abbāt- (stem of abbas ), ultimately from Aramaic abbā _Abba

Example Sentences

Police said the case first came to their attention in mid-June, when they learned that an abbot in Bangkok had suddenly left the monkhood after being extorted by a woman.

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But it was destroyed after the Lincolnshire Rising of 1536, when the last abbot and three monks were executed.

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Caldey Abbey commissioned the report, and its new abbot apologised for the pain and suffering caused.

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St Beuno, a seventh century abbot, was said to be so grateful to a curlew for rescuing his prayer book after it fell into the sea that he asked for all curlews to be protected.

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And at the closing ceremony, Yeo-am, the temple’s abbot, offered some parting words of wisdom.

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Related Words

• monk