abbot

¹

[ ab-uht ]

noun

1. a man who is the head or superior, usually elected, of a monastery.

Abbot

²

[ ab-uht ]

noun

1. Charles Greeley, 1872–1973, U.S. astrophysicist.
2. Also Abbott. a first name.

abbot

/ ˈæbət /

noun

1. the superior of an abbey of monks abbatial

Derived Forms

• ˈabbotˌship, noun

Other Words From

• abbot·cy abbot·ship noun
• sub·abbot noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of abbot¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, variant of abbat, from Latin abbāt- (stem of abbās ), from Greek, from Aramaic abbā; replacing Middle English, Old English abbod (compare Old High German abbat ), from Late Latin abbād- for abbāt-; Abba ¹( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of abbot¹

Old English abbod, from Church Latin abbāt- (stem of abbas ), ultimately from Aramaic abbā Abba

Example Sentences

St Beuno, a seventh century abbot, was said to be so grateful to a curlew for rescuing his prayer book after it fell into the sea that he asked for all curlews to be protected.

From BBC

And at the closing ceremony, Yeo-am, the temple’s abbot, offered some parting words of wisdom.

From Los Angeles Times

State media puts out a continuous stream of reports showing the diminutive dictator lavishing gifts on temples, and as a pallbearer at the funerals of senior abbots.

From BBC

Enclosed in a shrine, the skeletal frame of a man is posed in meditation, legs crossed beneath bright abbot’s robes while his bony hands rest on top.

From National Geographic

A Buddhist abbot who established a thriving religious community in southern Taiwan and built universities overseas.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• monk