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 ( cf. abbey), equivalent to abbāt- ( see 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

The name of Mochaoi's abbacy, n' Aondruim, was in time anglicised to Antrim.

From The Divine Adventure Volume IV by Macleod, Fiona

The political relations, both of the people of the abbacy and of the Toggenburgers remained in an unsettled state.

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

The charters should be surrendered till the popular claimant of the abbacy should confirm them.

From Stray Studies from England and Italy by Greene, John Richard

Let the King send, if he will, and seize the ward; he has the strength and power of doing his will, indeed of taking away the whole of the abbacy.

From The Chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond: A Picture of Monastic Life in the Days of Abbot Samson by Brakelond, Jocelin de