Middle English Dictionary Entry
abbes(se n.
Entry Info
| Forms | abbes(se n. Also abbas, abbace. Pl. abbesse. |
| Etymology | OF ab(e)esse |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A woman superior of a convent of nuns.
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)52/193 : Go..to Schafteburi to þe Abbesse of þe house.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.678 : That was abbesse nat fer fro Parys.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Abbess (Phys-E)p.164 : Abbes of a nunrye.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.177 : Þe abbot of engelonde and þe abbesse [vrr. abbace, abbas] ys nece.
- a1425(c1300) NHom.(1) Abbess (Cmb Gg.5.31)p.168 : This abbas was all slepand.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6350 : Somtyme am I prioresse, And now a nonne, and now abbesse.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)7/20 : Sain benet mustirs in his sentence Hu þabes sal take hir cunsale.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)8/1 : Þe dedis of þabbesse sal be in þe dute of god, for sho be set til resun of all hir iugemens and of al hir dedis bi-for god.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)12/37 : Ye sal be meke vnder yure abbes.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)202/6 : The Abbas of Denney, an hows of nunnys, oftyn-tymys sent for þe sayd creatur.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)5 : Abbesse: Abbatissa.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)99/18 : Amphelice and all the Abbesse succedyng her.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)96/33 : I rede of an abbas þat was a clene woman of hyr body as for dede of lechery.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7624 : Þe eldoste..was at cam nonne & abbesse [vr. abbasse].
Note: New spelling
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?1482 Rev.Monk Eynsham2314 : A certen worschipful abbas was ther, that blessedly paste thys same ȝere owte fro thys world.
Note: Additional quot.