† ˈabbatess, ˈabbotess Obs.
Forms: 1 abbadisse, abbudisse, abbodisse; 1–4 abbodesse; 2–7 abbatisse, abbatesse; 5 abatyse.
[a. abbadissa, late L. and early Rom. pronunc. of L. abbātissa (cf. Pr. and It. abbadessa) fem. of abbas, abbāt-em, abbot; introduced into Eng. at or soon after the Conversion; afterwards assimilated to the literary L. spelling as abbatisse. In 2 or 3 the Fr. abbesse was introduced, but the earlier form continued to exist beside it as abbatesse, abbotess till 7.]
= abbess.
| c 855 O.E. Chron. an. 680 And þy ylcan ᵹeare forþferde Hild abbodesse on Streonesheale. c 885 K. ælfred Bæda iv. 24 On Hilde mynstre þære abbudissan wæs sum bróðor Cædmon ᵹeháten. a 1000 A.S. Inst. Polity in Anc. Laws II. 320 Riht is þæt abbodas & huru abbadissan fæste on mynstrum singallice wunian. 1002 Will of Wulfric, Cod. Dip. VI. 147 And ælcon abbode and æalcon abbatissan .v. mancusas goldes. 1393 Langland P.Pl. C. vii. 128 Ich haue an Aunte to a nunne · and to an abbodesse [v.r. abbesse, abbasse]. c 1450 in Wright Vocab. 215 Hec abatissa, a abatyse. 1538 Leland It. II. 67. §6 Bertane was the first Abbatisse therof. 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong., Abbesse, an Abbatesse. 1633 Hanmer Chron. Irel. 60 This Saint Yta was an Abbatesse, whose originall was of Meth. 1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. xiii. 87 Abbatisses were present, & attested the acts of that Synod. 1649 Selden Laws of Eng. i. vii. 15 (1739) To govern, chuse, appoint, confirm, and remove Abbots, Abbotesses, Presbyters, and Deacons. 1685 R. Morden Geogr. Rectified Germany 132 The Abbey Quedelnburg, whose Abbatess was sometimes Princess of the Empire. |