different between abbess vs vicaress

abbess

English

Alternative forms

  • abbatess, abbotess (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English abbesse, from Old French abeesse (French abbesse), from Late Latin or Ecclesiastical Latin abbatissa, feminine of Latin abbas, abbatis (abbot).

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /?æb.?s/, /?æb.?s/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /?æb.?s/, /?æb.?s/

Noun

abbess (plural abbesses)

  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. [First attested around 1150 to 1350]
    The abbess was always after the nuns to keep the convent immaculately clean.
  2. (archaic, British slang) A woman who runs a brothel; a woman employed by a prostitute to find clients.

Synonyms

  • (female superior of a nunnery): mother superior
  • (woman who runs a brothel): bawd, Covent Garden abbess, lady abbess, madam

Related terms

  • abbey
  • abbot

Translations

References

abbess From the web:

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vicaress

English

Etymology

vicar +? -ess

Noun

vicaress (plural vicaresses)

  1. A sister lower in order than an abbess or mother superior in a nunnery or convent.
  2. A female representative.
  3. The wife of a parish vicar.

Translations

Quotations

  • Champagne had quickened her tongue, whereas the vicaress began to wax somnolent with a pleasant sense of satiety. She responded in monosyllables to Mrs. Marjoy's dithy- rambics on morals.

References

  • Found in the Oxford English Dictionary

vicaress From the web:

  • what does vicarious mean
  • meaning vicarious
  • what does the word vicarious mean
  • what is vicarious
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