| 释义 |
vowess Now Hist. or arch.|ˈvaʊɪs|
Also 6 voiesse, woys(s)e, vowes, wowes; 6–7 vowesse.
[Cf. vower1 and -ess.]
1. A woman, esp. a widow, who has taken a vow of chastity for the remainder of her life.
1506Lincoln Wills (1914) I. 44, I Jane Harby of Lincoln, Wowes, mak my testament, [etc.]. 1512Nottingham Rec. III. 453 Agnes Mellars, wydowe and vowesse. 1546Bale Eng. Votaries i. 13 And at hys departure in the mornynge, he neyther commaunded Peter to breake vp howsholde, nor yet to forsake hys wyfe and make her a vowesse. 1865Test. Ebor. (Surtees) III. 312 A lady, after her husband's death, was allowed to take the vow of chastity, and she was then called a vowess. 1875Henderson Liber Pontificalis Chr. Bainbridge Pref. p. xl, At the Benedictio Viduæ, the Vowess in a blue dress with white hood..is kneeling before the Bishop.
2. A woman who makes a vow of devotion to a religious life; a nun.
1533More Answ. Poysoned Bk. Wks. 1060/1 Some vowesses peraduenture ther are, which as yet neuer intend to breake their vow. 1553Becon Reliques Rome (1563) 37 b, A certayne vowesse or professed nunne. 1587Holinshed Chron. III. 1080/2 Vpon which toome there laie a stone image of Edith in the habit of a vowesse holding a hart in hir right hand. 1611Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. vii. vii. 227 She abandoned her Regencie, and built a house of deuotion in the Ile of Shepey, wherein herselfe became a Vowesse. 1695Kennett Par. Antiq. ix. 660 A rich Tomb..with her image thereon, in the habit of a Vowess Crown'd. |