abbess's Usage Examples:

An abbot also had the power of excommunicating refractory nuns, which he might use if desired by their abbess.

), (5) to give the benediction to abbots and abbesses, (6) to anoint kings.

Protestantism was introduced in 1568, and Magdalena, the last Roman Catholic abbess, died in 1589; but Protestant abbesses were appointed to the foundation, and continued to enjoy their imperial privileges till 1803, when Gandersheim was incorporated with Brunswick.

From Hartlepool Hilda moved to Whitby, where in 657 she founded the famous double monastery which in the time of the first abbess included among its members five future bishops, Bosa, 'Etta, Oftfor, John and Wilfrid II.

At the request of the abbess he became an inmate of the monastery.

And one ran quickly and told the good abbess, or mistress of the abbey, what strange thing had happened.

Two slight innovations were introduced: the minimum age of an abbess was fixed at sixty, and the period of novitiate was prolonged from one year to two.

In the middle ages the order fell into abeyance in both divisions of the Church, the abbess taking the place of the deaconess.

With certain restrictions the pastoral staff is also sometimes conceded to dignitaries of cathedral and collegiate churches, but never to abbesses (Sacra Congreg.

Among the abbesses was the celebrated Elizabeth (1618-1680), eldest daughter of the elector palatine Frederick V.

The abbess of the nunnery, who held from 1275 the rank of a princess of the Empire, was assisted by a chapter of ten princesses and countesses; she governed the town until 1803, when it was secularized and incorporated with Prussia.

granted a privilege, by which the office of abbess was to continue in the ducal family of Saxony as long as any member was found competent and willing to accept the same.

Synonyms:

mother, mother superior, prioress, superior,

Antonyms:

follower, low, subordinate, worst, inferior,