abigail

[ ab-i-geyl ]

/ ˈæb ɪˌgeɪl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR abigail ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a lady's maid.

Nearby words

Origin of abigail

1645–55; after Abigail, name of attendant in play The Scornful Lady (1610), by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher

Abigail

[ ab-i-geyl ]

/ ˈæb ɪˌgeɪl /

noun

the wife of Nabal and later of David. I Sam. 25.

a female given name: from a Hebrew word meaning “joy of the father.”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for abigail

What we can reasonably require an Abigail Fisher to understand is that the rules are bent based on socioeconomics.
The Supreme Court Steps Back From Tokenism Under a New Name|John McWhorter|June 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In our moment, then, an Abigail Fisher must be viewed differently than she once would have been.
The Supreme Court Steps Back From Tokenism Under a New Name|John McWhorter|June 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Abigail Haglage rounds up what we know so far about the honorable Charles Ramsey.
Video Star of the Day: Charles Ramsey, Cleveland’s Hero|Abby Haglage|May 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
So too does Abigail Pogrebin, an author and former 60 Minutes producer.
America’s Top 50 Rabbis for 2013|Gabrielle Birkner|March 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Pauline Phillips, known affectionately to the nation by her pen name Abigail Van Buren, died Wednesday at age 94.
Words of Wisdom: The Best of ‘Dear Abby’|Nina Strochlic|January 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
"This man," said Abigail Williams, going off into another fit.
Dulcibel|Henry Peterson
Mrs. Abigail had now employed a "help" in Cynthy Ann's place, and Julia could be spared.
The End Of The World|Edward Eggleston
"I can hold my tongue as well as anybody," said the Abigail with a toss of her head.
The Eustace Diamonds|Anthony Trollope
They called it Quincy, probably because Abigail, John's wife, insisted upon it.
Little Journeys To the Homes of the Great, Volume 3 (of 14)|Elbert Hubbard
The shutter opened again, and an unmistakable Aunt Abigail looked down.
Peggy Raymond's Vacation|Harriet L. (Harriet Lummis) Smith

British Dictionary definitions for abigail

Abigail

/ (ˈæbɪˌɡeɪl) /

noun

Old Testament the woman who brought provisions to David and his followers and subsequently became his wife (I Samuel 25:1–42)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for abigail

Abigail

fem. proper name, in Old Testament, Abigail the Carmelitess, a wife of David, from Hebrew Abhigayil, literally "my father is rejoicing," from abh "father" + gil "to rejoice." Used in general sense of "lady's maid" (1660s) from character of that name in Beaumont & Fletcher's "The Scornful Lady." The waiting maid association perhaps begins with I Sam. xxv, where David's wife often calls herself a "handmaid." Her male counterpart was Andrew.

abigail

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of abigail

Abigail

noun

Examples from the Web for abigail

Abigail

noun

Abigail