abbess
3
8.9
- noun
- /ˈæbɛs/
:
abadessa
- And then the abbess, the abbess runs the whole thing.
- the first abbess
And then the abbess, the abbess runs the whole thing.
- And then the abbess, the abbess runs the whole thing.
- She, she sort of rises through the ranks and then is elected the, the abbess.
Examples
-
The abbess led the evening prayers with grace, ensuring all the nuns participated diligently.
-
The thought of being abbess has never, ever crossed my mind.
Fiction book (1992) -
Within a week, the Abbess received the letter she expected:
Fiction book (1999) -
Would you kindly take me to the abbess, please?
-
The disruption did not happen as the Abbess had feared, and she completely missed the first signs.
Fiction book (1999) -
After several months, the Abbess began to feel that this could not continue indefinitely.
Fiction book (1999) -
This is Sister Silva, the Abbess.
-
Nevertheless, after the Abbess sent this note, Beatrice wrote a second letter to Antonio.
Fiction book (1999) -
Once Beatrice returned to the Abbess's care, she remained under her close supervision.
Fiction book (1999) -
Early one morning, Beatrice fainted while she was singing, lost consciousness, and was carried to the Abbess's quarters.
Fiction book (1999)
Synonyms
2
7.8
A woman who is in charge of a group of nuns in a convent
1
9.9
A woman who leads a group of nuns
A woman who leads an abbey or convent
Compounds
How Senior
Surface Forms
Morphology
abbess = abbot (transparent) = abb + ess
The feminine suffix '-ess' forms the female counterpart of 'abbot', so the meaning is directly derived for learners who know 'abbot' and the suffix.
Etymology
Abbess comes from the same root as abbot and abbey, and that root goes back to the old word abba, which means 'father'. So an abbess is the woman who leads a convent of nuns, like an abbot leads monks.