i Register
In some senses, abbess is marked as archaic, slang, British. Watch for register when choosing this word.
abbess
/ˈæb.ɪs/
noun 2
Collocations
4ADJ.
old
ABBESS + NOUN
mary
PREP.
after
ADV.
always
Definitions
noun
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
A woman who runs a brothel; a woman employed by a prostitute to find clients.
Why laſt night, as Colonel Kill'em, Sir William Weezy, Lord Frederick Foretop, and I were careleſsly ſliding the Ranelagh round, picking our teeth, after a damn'd muzzy dinner at Boodle's, who ſhould trip by but an abbeſs, well known about town, with a ſmart little nun in her ſuite.
So an old Abbess for the rattling Rakes, / A tempting dish of human nature makes, / And dresses up a luscious Maid: / I rather should have said, indeed, undresses, / To please a youth's unsanctified caresses.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
noun — the superior of a group of nuns
- prioress
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
601
The abbess was always after the nuns to keep the convent immaculately clean.
Wiktionary02
Why laſt night, as Colonel Kill'em, Sir William Weezy, Lord Frederick Foretop, and I were careleſsly ſliding the Ranelagh round, picking our teeth, after a damn'd muzzy dinner at Boodle's, who ſhould
Wiktionary03
So an old Abbess for the rattling Rakes, / A tempting dish of human nature makes, / And dresses up a luscious Maid: / I rather should have said, indeed, undresses, / To please a youth's unsanctified c
Wiktionary04
The abbess asked Mary if she was completely sure that the monastic life fit her.
Tatoeba · #490430105
The abbess strove to provide a safe refuge for women to pursue learning, research and independence, in spite of the social norms of the era.
Tatoeba · #1198910006
Saint Brigid of Kildare founded a Celtic monastery in Ireland, presiding over both nuns and monks as its abbess.
Tatoeba · #11989108Usage Notes
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