Abbot

¹ American  

[ab-uht] / ˈæb ət /

noun

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

2. Also Abbott a first name.

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abbot ² American  

[ab-uht] / ˈæb ət /

noun

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

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abbot British  

/ ˈæbət /

noun

1. the superior of an abbey of monks

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Other Word Forms

• abbotcy noun
• abbotship noun
• subabbot noun

Etymology

Origin of abbot

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. )

Example Sentences

“I am looking forward to the silence finally stopping, because 54 years of silence is a long time,” said Bishop Kassianos of Aravissos, the abbot of the seminary.

From The Wall Street Journal

But she goes over the head of her adversarial abbot, Cuno, and convinces the Pope that her visions are the voice of God.

From Los Angeles Times

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.

From BBC

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

From BBC

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.

From BBC

Related Words

• monk