What does "abbess" mean?
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.
Abbess
/ˈæb.ɪs/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: 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.
- Grammar: abbess is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: mother superior, prioress, abbesshood, abbessship.
- Useful contrasts: abbot, abbots, layperson.
- Usage evidence: The abbess asked Mary if she was completely sure that the monastic life fit her.
How to use "abbess"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "abbess" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "abbess" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "abbess" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "abbess" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "abbess" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "mother superior" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "abbess", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 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."
- 2 the superior of a group of nuns wordnet
- 3 A woman who runs a brothel; a woman employed by a prostitute to find clients. British, archaic, slang
"Why laſt night, as Colonel Kill'em, Sir William Weezy, Lord Frederick Foretop, and I were careleſsly ſliding the Ranelagh round, picking our teeth, after a damn'd muzzy dinner at Boodle's, who ſhould trip by but an abbeſs, well known about town, with a ſmart little nun in her ſuite."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The abbess asked Mary if she was completely sure that the monastic life fit her."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "abbess"?
Common synonyms include: mother superior, prioress, abbesshood, abbessship, brigid, canoness.
How do you use "abbess" in a sentence?
The abbess asked Mary if she was completely sure that the monastic life fit her.
How do you pronounce "abbess"?
Pronounced /ˈæb.ɪs/.
Etymology
From Middle English abbesse, from Old French abeesse (French abbesse), from Late Latin or Ecclesiastical Latin abbatissa, feminine of Latin abbas, abbatis (“abbot”).