abbey
(ˈæbɪ)
Forms: 3–5 abbeye; 3–8 abbaye; 3 abbei; 4 abey; 4–7 abbay; 6 abba, abee, abbie, abbeie; 6–8 abby; 3– abbey.
[a. OFr. abaïe, abeïe, abbaïe, abbeïe (mod. abbaye), Pr. abadia:—late L. abbādia, abbāthia, abbātia, n. of state, f. abbātem abbot. Abbey, abbathie, abbacy, all represent the same L. word, but English has differentiated abbacy and abbey, which are both included in L. abbatia, and Fr. abbaye.]
1. A monastery of religious persons secluded from the world, and under vows of celibacy, consisting of monks governed by an abbot, or of nuns under an abbess. The development of meaning was— a. the jurisdiction or benefice of an abbot, abbacy. b. the religious establishment or corporation. c. the monastic buildings. But these senses cannot always be separated.
| 1250 Layamon III. 191 At Bangor was on abbey [1205 munuclif] ifulled with monekes. Ibid. III. 192 He hadde in soue abbayes [1205 on seuen hepen] sixtene hundred monakes. 1297 R. Glouc. 369 Þere, as þe batayle was, an abbey he let rere..Þat ys ycluped in Engelond, abbey of þe batayle. c 1300 St. Brandan 263 Into meni o stede, and siththe into an Abbei. 1375 Barbour Bruce xx. 599 The Erll of Murreff..hass gert bery The kyngis hert at the abbay of melross. c 1450 Lonelich Grail liv. 154 In Abbey [Iosephe] was buryed ful Solempne, Whech Abbey of Glaystyngbery now men hald. 1534 Ld. Berners Golden Boke of Marcus Aurel. [1546] C vi. If ye gyue an abbaye to a foole. 1536 Exhortacyon to the North in Furnivall Ballads from MSS. Abbas to suppresse we haue lytyll nede. 1548 Hall Chron. (1809) 729 With great triumph rode these ij Cardinalls together to the Abee. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. v. i. 155 Then they fled Into this Abbey, whether we pursu'd them. 1595 ― John i. i. 48 Our Abbies and our Priories shall pay This expeditions charge. 1605 Camden Remaines 191 William Rufus loved wel to keep vacant Bishopriks and Abbies in his handes. 1639 Drummond of Hawthornden Consid. to Parlt. Wks. 1711, 186 That all bishops houses, concierges, abbays, and nunries, be made places to entertain souldiers. 1651 W. G. tr. Cowel's Inst. 204 Had monies owing to them in the name of their Abbies. 1759 Robertson Hist. of Scot. (1817) 276 The Scottish monarchs had the sole right of nomination to vacant bishoprics and abbeys. 1772 Pennant Tours in Scotland 255 (1774) All the monks of this abby. 1861 Wade Melrose Abbey 251 The estates of the abbey were granted by Queen Mary to the earl of Bothwell. |
2. Since the dissolution of the monasteries, popularly applied to the Abbey Church, as Westminster Abbey (in London, the Abbey); entering also into the names of private residences, which were formerly abbatial houses, as Battle Abbey, Newbattle Abbey.
| 1557 More Rich. III, 192 (1641) Entred the Abbie at the West end. 1584 D. Powel Lloyd's Cambria 142 The toombe of Gerald Sitfylt in the Abbeie of Dore. 1624 Beaum. & Fl. (Bell's ed.) Rule a wife iv. i. 45 This would do rarely in an abby window to cozen pilgrims. a 1674 Clarendon Hist. Reb. I. iv. 265 The Abby at Westminster. 1712 Addison Spectator No. 329. 1 He had been reading my paper upon Westminster Abbey. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xi. All the steeples from the Abbey to the Tower, sent forth a joyous din. 1882 Daily News 27 April 4/7 In the presence of a large and representative gathering the remains of the late Mr. Darwin were yesterday interred in Westminster Abbey. |
3. Scotl. The precincts of the Abbey of Holyrood, as a sanctuary for insolvent debtors.
| 1709 Fountainhall Decisions II. 518 If he offered to go back to the Abbey, and was enticed to stay and hindered to go. a 1776 Cock Laird (Herd's Ballads II. 36) When broken, frae care The fools are set free, When we make them lairds In the Abbey, quoth she. |
4. attrib. and Comb.; as abbey-church, abbey gate, abbey vault, abbey wall, abbey window. Also abbey-counter (see counter n.3 1 a), a medal presented to a pilgrim as a token of his having visited a shrine (cf. pilgrim's sign); abbey-labourer, a labourer in the service of an abbey; abbey-lands, estates of an abbey; abbey man, a member of a monastery, a monk; abbey-monger; abbey-stead, a monastic settlement; the site of an abbey. Also abbey-laird, abbey-like, abbey-lubber, q.v.
| 1649 Drummond of Hawthornden Hist. James V, Wks. 1711, 105 She was crowned queen of Scotland in the abby-church of Holyrood-house. 1839–42 C. Knight Pict. Edition Works Shakspere. Comedies II. 231/1 Jettons..were commonly used for purposes of calculation, in abbeys and other places... From their being found among the ruins of English abbeys they are usually termed abbey-counters. 1868 Stephens Runic Mon. II. 535 There was also a class of Jettons commonly called Abbey-counters, with similar or cognate instructive stamps. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. v. i. 165 Go some of you, knocke at the Abbey gate. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. i. v. 28 Abbey-labourers, not Abbey-lubbers, like their Successours in after-Ages. 1679 M. Prance Add. Narrative 30 To secure abbey-lands to their owners. c 1550 Bale K. Iohan 27 Thou art styll an abbeman. 1679 M. Prance Add. Narrative 30 It is almost incredible, what a Qualm..came over the Hearts of the stoutest abby-mongers in England. 1819 Scott Ivanhoe II. x. 175 It is a rich abbey-stede, and they do live upon the fat. 1845 Hirst Poems 43 'Till in abbey-vault I sleep. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. v. i. 265 I neuer came within these abbey wals. |