different between abbot vs abbess

English

Etymology

From Middle English abbot, abbod, abbed, from Old English abbat, abbad, abbod, from Latin abb?s (“father”), from Ancient Greek ????? (abbâs), from Aramaic ???? (’abb?, “father”). Doublet of abba, abbé, and bwana.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?æb.?t/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?æb.?t/
• Homophone: Abbot
• Rhymes: -æb?t

Noun

abbot (plural abbots)

1. The superior or head of an abbey or monastery. [First attested around the early 12^th century.]

   The newly appointed abbot decided to take a tour of the abbey with the cardinal's emissary.

2. The pastor and/or administrator of an order, including minor and major orders starting with the minor order of porter.
3. A layman who received the abbey's revenues, after the closing of the monasteries.
4. (archaic, British slang) A brothel-owner's husband or lover.
5. (archaic, British slang) A ponce; a man employed by a prostitute to find clients, and who may also act as a bodyguard or equivalent to a bouncer.

Derived terms

Related terms

Descendants

• Gullah: aabut

Translations

See also

• prior
• rector
• monk

References

• Webster 1913

Swedish

Etymology

From Old Swedish abbot, from Latin abb?s, from Ancient Greek ????? (abbâs), from Aramaic ???? (’abb?, “father”). Doublet of abbé.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ab??t/

Noun

abbot c

1. an abbot

Declension

Related terms

See also

• munk

References

• abbot in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)
• abbot in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)

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