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 Word Forms

• 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

But it was destroyed after the Lincolnshire Rising of 1536, when the last abbot and three monks were executed.

From BBC

Caldey Abbey commissioned the report, and its new abbot apologised for the pain and suffering caused.

From BBC

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

Related Words

• monk