abbess

Definitions

(Noun) A woman who is head of convent

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1. a woman who is the head or superior of a group of nuns in a convent which is also a woman's only monastery. (In a convent women are called "Sisters" and can go outside the confines of the buildings; in a monastery the women are called "nuns" and usually confine themselves to the monastery.

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the superior of a convent

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Or: Lady Abbess / mother abbess , British slang term in use from the 17 ^th to the 19 ^th century for the madam of a brothel (called a nunnery) either as manager or proprietor. See madam for synonyms. Quote: John Wolcot. Odes to the Pope (1782): ' So an old Abbess, for the rattling rakes / A tempting dish of human nature makes / And dresses up a luscious maid.'

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(Noun) the nun who is in charge of the other nuns in a convent