Dictionary Entry
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.
In a Sentence
“The abbess was always after the nuns to keep the convent immaculately clean.”
Origin
Origin details are still being enriched for this entry.
Common Phrases
Antonyms
No antonyms yet.
Poetry examples for “abbess”
Excerpts from the ReadingWillow English Library collection.
Read full poem →And the fifty tapers burning o'er it,
And the lady Abbess dead before it,
And the chanting nuns whom yesterweek
Read full poem →Alone in her chamber
Knelt Astrid the Abbess,
At midnight, adoring,
Read full poem →For, on the deck, in chair of state,
The Abbess of Saint Hilda placed,
With five fair nuns, the galley graced.
Read full poem →Save two, who ill might pleasure share—
The Abbess and the novice Clare.
Read full poem →The Abbess was of noble blood, 45
But early took the veil and hood,
Read full poem →Yet nothing stern was she in cell,
And the nuns loved their Abbess well.
Sad was this voyage to the dame;
Read full poem →For, on the deck, in chair of state,
The Abbess of Saint Hilda placed, 20
With five fair nuns, the galley graced.
Read full poem →The summoner was gone.
Prone on her face the Abbess fell,
And fast and fast her beads did tell;