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Glite Dictionary
lady abbess

lady abbess

9.8
A woman who leads an abbey or convent
  • noun
  • /ˈleɪdi ˈæbɛs/
  • Formal
translation icon : abadessa
  • The lady abbess presided over the daily prayers in the convent.

Examples

  • The young nuns turned to the lady abbess for guidance and support.

  • Everyone respected the lady abbess for her wisdom and kindness.

  • The lady abbess welcomed the new sisters to the convent.

  • Many lady abbesses have led their communities with grace.

  • The lady abbess presided over the daily prayers in the convent.

  • Everyone respected the lady abbess for her wisdom and kindness.

  • The young nuns turned to the lady abbess for guidance and support.

Synonyms

abbess
vslady abbess
3 8.9

A woman who leads a group of nuns in a convent

is used for the head of either an abbey or a convent
mother superior
vslady abbess
2 7.8

A woman who is in charge of a group of nuns in a convent

covers leadership of an abbey as well as a convent
prioress
vslady abbess
1 9.9

A woman who leads a group of nuns

is the head for either an abbey or a convent

Surface Forms

lady abbess singular
lady abbesses plural

Morphology

lady + abbess

Both constituents directly indicate a female leader of a religious house: 'abbess' means a woman in charge of a convent and 'lady' adds a respectful/feminine nuance. There is no idiomatic or metaphorical shift, so a B1 learner who knows the two words can readily derive the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Lady abbess combines the respectful word lady and abbess, the woman who leads a convent, so it means 'the female head of an abbey or convent'.