Middle English Dictionary Entry
abbot n.
Entry Info
| Forms | abbot n. Also abbod, abbed, abbat. |
| Etymology | OE abbod, abbot (from ML), & ML abbāt-em. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The superior of a convent of monks having the status of an abbey; (b) = abba, q.v.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.656 : Cuðbald, munec of þe selue mynstre, wæs coren to abbot.
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.675 : Se abbot Saxulf.
- 1123 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1123 : Se kyng..bed hise biscopes & hise abbates..þet hi scolden cumen to his gewitene mot.
- 1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1131 : Ðes oðer dæies..cusen þa muneces abbot of hem self and brohten him into cyrce mid processionem..setten him on þes abbotes settle..þa muneces of þa mynstre flemden se oðer abbot Heanri ut þa mynstre.
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1132 : Þa com Henri abbot & uureide þe muneces of Burche to þe king, forþi ðat he uuolde underþeden ðat mynstre to Clunie.
- c1225 Sanctus beda (Wor F.174)6 : Ælfric abbod, þe we alquin hoteþ..was bocare and þe bec wende.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)13027 : He..spæc wið þæne abbod.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)13215 : Ich spæc wið þene abbed [Otho: abbod].
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)86a : Þurgh þe abbates [Nero: abbodes] ropunge.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)50/136 : He wende..to þe heiȝe men alle þere, To Bischopes and to Abbodes al-so.
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (LdMisc 108)322 : Þe Abbodes [Hrl: abbotes] sege.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9172 : Ȝif bissop oþer abbod [vr. abbed] in þis lond ded were.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)219 : Þe benes of a couent byeþ raþre yherd of þe abbotte þanne þe bene of one moneke.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1958 : Wiþ cardenales & bischopus & abbotes fele.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.167 : A monk ther was..A manly man, to been an abbot able.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pri.(Manly-Rickert)B.1827 : The abbot with his couent Han sped hem for to burien hym ful faste.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.177 : For þe abbot of engelonde, and þe abbesse ys nece, Shullen haue a knok on here crounes.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2694 : Fatter than abbatis or priours.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)114/31 : Þe Abbot of Leycetyr wyth summe of hys chanownys.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)17/19 : Wylliam þe Conquerour þat send þe abbot of Ramsey to þe kyng of Denmarke.
b
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)339 : We call & cry Vnto our lord god al-myghty, And, 'fader, abbot,' þus we say.