abbess Meaning & Definition
What Does Abbess Mean?
Abbess is a noun that means 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. It is also used to mean A woman who runs a brothel; a woman employed by a prostitute to find clients.
Quick Facts About Abbess
| Part of speech | noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈæb.ɪs// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | prioress, mother superior and bawd |
| Plural | abbesses |
Abbess Definition (Noun)
- 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.
- A woman who runs a brothel; a woman employed by a prostitute to find clients.
Synonyms of Abbess
Abbess synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Abbess
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Abbess in a Sentence
The abbess was always after the nuns to keep the convent immaculately clean.
Word Forms & Grammar
abbess (plural abbesses)
Words That Rhyme With Abbess
Origin of Abbess
From Middle English abbesse, from Old French abeesse (French abbesse), from Late Latin or Ecclesiastical Latin abbatissa, feminine of Latin abbas, abbatis (“abbot”).
How Do You Say Abbess?
You say abbess as //ˈæb.ɪs//. It has 1 syllable.
Quick Answers About Abbess
What part of speech is abbess?
Abbess is a noun.
What is another word for abbess?
You can replace abbess with words such as prioress, mother superior and bawd. See the full list of abbess synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of abbess?
The plural of abbess is abbesses.