Middle English Dictionary Entry
abbā n.
Entry Info
| Forms | abbā n. Also (N) abbay. |
| Etymology | ML abba, from Aram. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Father! -- addressed to God & to an abbot.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.8.15 : Ȝe han taken the spirit of adopcioun of sones..in which spirit we cryen 'Abba, fadir.'
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)506/20 : When abbot Agathon was bown to dye, he lay iij dayes..& stirrid nott..at þe laste he movid, & þai spakk vnto hym & said, 'Abbay! Whar erte þou?'