the female superior of a convent
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
ab•bess /ˈæbɪs/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- Pronouns, Religiona woman who is the head of a convent of nuns.
ab•bess
(ab′is),USA pronunciation n.
- Pronounsa woman who is the superior of a convent of nuns.
- Late Latin *ab(b)adissa for abbātissa
- Late Latin; in turn replacing Old English abadisse, abbodesse (compare Old High German abbatissa)
- Late Latin abbātissa, feminine of abbās abbot; replacing Middle English abbatisse
- Old French abbesse, abaesse
- Middle English abbesse 1275–1325
- See -ess.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'abbess' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Argenteuil
- Bridget
- Brigid
- Héloïse
- Very Reverend
- Walpurgis
- Walpurgis Night
- abbacy
- abbatial
- abbey
- ess
- prioress