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Abbess vs Nun - What's the difference?

abbess | nun |

As nouns the difference between abbess and nun

is that abbess is 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 while nun is a member of a Christian religious community of women who live by certain vows and usually wear a habit, in some cases living together in a cloister.

As a proper noun Nun is

a given name derived from Hebrew.

abbess

English

(wikipedia abbess)

Alternative forms

* (obsolete) abbatess * (obsolete) abbotess

Noun

(es)
  • 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.

    Synonyms

    * (female superior of a nunnery) mother superior

    Related terms

    * abbey * abbot

    References

    nun

    English

    Etymology 1

    From ) a term of address for elderly persons, perhaps from children's speech, reminiscent of nana, like papa etc.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A member of a Christian religious community of women who live by certain vows and usually wear a habit, in some cases living together in a cloister.
  • By extension, member of a similar female community in other confessions.
    • Synonyms
    * sister, moniale, sistren
    Antonyms
    * (member of a religious community of men) * brother * friar * monk * friar and frater or father
    Derived terms
    * nunhood * nunlike, nun-like * nunnery
    Related terms
    * nonnus

    Etymology 2

    Ultimately from (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    * noon *

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The fourteenth letter of many Semitic alphabets/abjads (Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew, Syriac, Arabic and others).

    • External links

    *

    References

    * English heteronyms English palindromes English terms with multiple etymologies ----