/a bay", ab"ay/ ; Fr. /ann bay"/ , n. , pl. abbés /a bayz", ab"ayz/ ; Fr. /ann bay"/ . (esp. in France)
1. a member of the secular clergy.
2. a title of respect for any ecclesiastic or clergyman.
[ 1520-30; abbate ( m ), acc. of abbas ABBOT ]
/a bay", ab"ay/ ; Fr. /ann bay"/ , n. , pl. abbés /a bayz", ab"ayz/ ; Fr. /ann bay"/ . (esp. in France)
1. a member of the secular clergy.
2. a title of respect for any ecclesiastic or clergyman.
[ 1520-30; abbate ( m ), acc. of abbas ABBOT ]
Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary. Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House . 2012