Library / English Dictionary

ABBESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The superior of a group of nuns

Synonyms:

abbess; mother superior; prioress

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("abbess" is a kind of...):

superior (the head of a religious community)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "abbess"):

mother (a term of address for a mother superior)

Instance hyponyms:

Bride; Bridget; Brigid; Saint Bride; Saint Bridget; Saint Brigid; St. Bride; St. Bridget; St. Brigid (Irish abbess; a patron saint of Ireland (453-523))

Heloise (student and mistress and wife of Abelard (circa 1098-1164))

Derivation:

abbatial (of or having to do with or belonging to an abbey or abbot, or abbess)

Credits