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What is the difference between abbey and abbess?

abbey | abbess |

Abbess is a related term of abbey.



As nouns the difference between abbey and abbess

is that abbey is the office or dominion of an abbot or abbess while 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.

As a proper noun Abbey

is {{given name|female|diminutive=Abigail}}.

abbey

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The office or dominion of an abbot or abbess.
  • A monastery or society of people, secluded from the world and devoted to religion and celibacy, which is headed by an abbot or abbess; also, the monastic building or buildings.
    • From 1199 to 1203 William Punchard was the abbot of the abbey of Rievaulx, which was part of the Cistercian order of monks.
  • The church of a monastery.
  • (UK) A residence that was previously an abbatial building.
  • (capitalized) In London, the Abbey is short for Westminster Abbey, and in Scotland, the precincts of the Abbey of Holyrood.

    • Related terms

    * abbeystead * archabbey * archabbot

    See also

    * cloister * convent * friary * monastery * nunnery * priory

    References

    *

    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