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Definition of abbess

abbess

/ˈæb.əs/
ab · bess
Plural:abbesses
•
Adjective:abbatial
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abbess Lexical Profile

abbess Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A woman who is the superior or head of an abbey of nuns.

Example

"The abbess oversaw the daily spiritual and administrative affairs of the medieval monastery."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

abate
abatement
abbas
abbess
abbey
abbot
abbreviate

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Old French abbesse, from Late Latin abbatissa, the feminine form of abbas ('abbot'), which ultimately derives from Aramaic abba meaning 'father'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Abbess. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/abbess
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