abbess

[ ab-is ]
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noun
  1. a woman who is the superior of a convent of nuns.

Origin of abbess

1
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English abbesse from Old French abbesse, abaesse from Late Latin abbātissa, feminine of abbās abbot; replacing Middle English abbatisse from Late Latin; in turn replacing Old English abadisse, abbodesse (compare Old High German abbatissa ) from unattested Late Latin ab(b)adissa for abbātissa

usage note For abbess

What's the difference between abbess and abbot? See -ess.

Words Nearby abbess

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How to use abbess in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for abbess

abbess

/ (ˈæbɪs) /


noun
  1. the female superior of a convent

Origin of abbess

1
C13: from Old French, from Church Latin abbātissa

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