abbess

Meaning

1. A female superior or governess of a nunnery, or convent of nuns, having the same authority over the nuns which the abbots have over the monks.
2. (slang) A woman who runs a brothel; a woman employed by a prostitute to find clients.

Synonyms

prioress

mother superior

prelatess

superior

Mother Superior

nun1

abbot

religious woman

mother

👩‍🍼

sister

👩‍👧

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈæb.ɪs/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: abbesse

In summary

From Middle English abbesse, from Old French abeesse (French abbesse), from Late Latin or Ecclesiastical Latin abbatissa, feminine of Latin abbas, abbatis (“abbot”).