abbacy

American  

[ab-uh-see] / ˈæb ə si /

noun

plural

abbacies

1. the rank, rights, privileges, or jurisdiction of an abbot.

2. the term of office of an abbot.

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abbacy British  

/ ˈæbəsɪ /

noun

1. the office, term of office, or jurisdiction of an abbot or abbess

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Etymology

Origin of abbacy

1400–50; late Middle English abbacie, abbat ( h ) ie < Late Latin abbātia ( abbey ), equivalent to abbāt- ( abbot ) + -ia -ia

Example Sentences

Scrabble annoys me; I can’t trust a game in which a well-played za scores more points than, well, abbacy.

From Slate • Feb. 19, 2020

At the death of Charles, Ronsard retired to his native province, where he had an abbacy, Croix-Val.

From A Short History of French Literature by Saintsbury, George

But under the abbacy of John de Villula it soon recovered prosperity.

From Cathedral Cities of England by Gilbert, George

The governor-general Frei still prolonged his official term at Wyl, stirred up the people of the abbacy and conducted their affairs.

From The Life and Times of Ulric Zwingli by Hottinger, Johann Jakob

The Four Masters tell us it was the monks of Drogheda who had expelled him from the abbacy for his own crime.

From Mellifont Abbey, Co. Louth Its Ruins and Associations, a Guide and Popular History by Anonymous