abbotcyn.
/ˈabətsi/, U.S. /ˈæbətsi/ The jurisdiction, position, office, or term of office of an abbot. Cf. abbacy n.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > monasticism > religious superior > abbot > [noun] > office of
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1814 P. Browne Hist. Norwich ix. 263 William Rufus..made him Abbot of Ramsey,..by which he grew so rich, as to be able in 1091 to purchase the abbotcy of Winchester for his father.
1859 Jrnl. Sacred Lit. 9 283 During the abbotcy of Columba's immediate successor, the celebrated Columbanus left Iona.
1870 C. A. Maxwell Sea Kings of Orkney 31 He never renounced the humble office of a presbyter; nor ever held higher office than the abbotcy.
1907 J. R. Scott Beatrix of Clare xxiii. 312 In the name of the King I promise you, Sir Prior, the Abbotcy of Kirkstall, and your good fellows each a grade in rank.
1955 G. Smith Constit. & Legal Hist. Eng. vii. 125 To obtain money the great knight-errant sold bishoprics, abbotcies, offices of state,..anything that could command a market.
1997 K. Tiyavanich Forest Recoll. i. 33 Under the abbotcy of Noi, Wat Thammasala..became home to at least a hundred monkeys and a variety of birds.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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