| 释义 |
abbess|ˈæbɪs|
Forms: 3–7 abbesse; 4 abbes(e, abbeys; 4–5 abbas; 4–6 abbasse; 5–6 abbace; 7– abbess.
[a. OFr. abbesse, abesse, earlier abeësse, abaësse (Pr. abadessa):—late L. abbadissa, -tissa, fem. of abbāt-em abbot; see -ess. This OFr. form appears beside the earlier abbatess in 2–3, and has superseded it since 7.]
a. The female superior of a nunnery or convent of women, having the same authority over nuns that an abbot has over monks.
1297R. Glouc. 370 Þe eldeste, þat was at Came nonne & abbese. c1300Met. Hom. 164 That was abbes of a nunrye. 1393Gower Conf. III. 337 His wife..that was abbesse there, Unto his tale hath laid her ere. c1400Rom. Rose 6352 Somtyme am I prioresse, And now a nonne, & now abbesse. c1420Chron. Vilod. 155 Bot Radgunde was first sacryd Abbas þere. 1482Monk of Evesham 91 A certen worschipful abbas was ther. 1513Lyfe of St. Werburge 78 And dyd electe to them · an other abbace. 1590Shakes. Com. Err. v. i. 166 Go some of you, knocke at the Abbey gate, And bid the Lady Abbesse come to me. 1859Tennyson Guinevere 688 And likewise for the high rank she had borne, Was chosen Abbess, there, an Abbess, lived For three brief years, and there, an Abbess, past To where beyond these voices there is peace.
†b. transf. (See quot. 1785.) Obs. (See also Farmer Slang (1890) I. 3/2.)
1749J. Cleland Mem. Woman Pleasure I. 59 Who should come in but the venerable mother Abbess herself! handed in by a tall, brawny young horse-grenadier. 1770[see nun n.1 1 c]. 1785Grose Dict. Vulg. Tongue, Abbess, or Lady Abbess, a bawd, the mistress of a brothel. 1793‘Peter Pindar’ Poet. Epistle to the Pope 33 So an old Abbess for the rattling Rakes, A tempting dish of human nature makes. 1837W. Kidd London & its Dangers 36 The Infernal wretches, who traffic in the souls and bodies of their helpless victims, are called—Lady Abbesses. |