| Definitions | | abbess |
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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.
- (1811) A bawd, the mistress of a brothel (1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue).
Etymology: From Old French abaesse, abeesse, French abbesse, Latin abbatissa, feminine of abbas, abbatis, abbot.
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Full Definition of abbess
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