prioress

[ prahy-er-is ]

/ ˈpraɪ ər ɪs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR prioress ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a woman holding a position corresponding to that of a prior, sometimes ranking next below an abbess.

Nearby words

prior, prior lien, prior probability, prior restraint, priorate, prioress, prioritize, priority, priority mail, priory, pripet

Origin of prioress

1250–1300; Middle English prioresse < Old French. See prior², -ess

Related forms

sub·pri·or·ess, noun

Usage note

See -ess.

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

Examples from the Web for prioress

It seems to represent a bishop, since there are traces of a crosier, though some have taken it for a prioress.
Somerset|G.W. Wade and J.H. Wade
First came two monks, then six armed men of the Abbot's guard, then the Prioress and three of her nuns.
The Lady Of Blossholme|H. Rider Haggard
At Sopwell the nuns more than once tried to elect their own prioress and seem to have found the Abbot somewhat high-handed.
Medieval English Nunneries c. 1275 to 1535|Eileen Edna Power
Some of them stayed away unduly long when they happened to go out with the licence of the Prioress.
Medieval English Nunneries c. 1275 to 1535|Eileen Edna Power

A nun, who had been Agnes's friend, hinted at atrocious vengeance taken by the prioress for Agnes's attempt to escape.
The World's Greatest Books, Vol VI.|Various

British Dictionary definitions for prioress

prioress

/ (ˈpraɪərɪs) /

noun

a nun holding an office in her convent corresponding to that of a prior in a male religious order

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

prioress

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of prioress

Related forms

Usage note

Examples from the Web for prioress

British Dictionary definitions for prioress

prioress

noun