definition of the word abbess

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Abbess

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Abbess

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From Old French abaesse, abeesse, French abbesse, Latin abbatissa, feminine of abbas, abbatis, abbot.

• (RP) IPA: /ˈæbɪs/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

abbess (plural abbesses)

1. A female superior or governess of a nunnery, or convent of nuns, having the same authority over the nuns which the abbots have over the monks.

   The abbess was always after the nuns to keep the convent immaculately clean.

2. (obsolete, slang) A bawd, the mistress of a brothel (1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue).

• (female superior of a nunnery): mother superior
• (a bawd): lady abbess

• abbey
• abbot

Definition from Wiktionary Content avaible with GNU Free Documentation License

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