/ab"is/ , n.
a woman who is the superior of a convent of nuns.
[ 1275-1325; ME abbesse abbesse, abaesse abbatissa, fem. of abbas ABBOT; r. ME abbatisse abadisse, abbodesse (cf. OHG abbatissa ) ab ( b ) adissa for abbatissa ]
Usage . See -ess .
/ab"is/ , n.
a woman who is the superior of a convent of nuns.
[ 1275-1325; ME abbesse abbesse, abaesse abbatissa, fem. of abbas ABBOT; r. ME abbatisse abadisse, abbodesse (cf. OHG abbatissa ) ab ( b ) adissa for abbatissa ]
Usage . See -ess .
Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary. Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House . 2012