ab ‧ bess /ˈæbəs, ˈæbɪs, ˈæbes/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: abbesse , from Late Latin abbatissa , from abbas ; ⇨ ↑ abbot ]
a woman who is in charge of a ↑ convent (=a place where a group of ↑ nun s live)