abbé

American  

[a-bey, ab-ey, a-bey] / æˈbeɪ, ˈæb eɪ, aˈbeɪ /

noun

plural

abbés

1. (especially in France)

   1. a member of the secular clergy.

   2. a title of respect for any ecclesiastic or clergyman.

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abbé ¹ British  

/ abe, ˈæbeɪ /

noun

1. a French abbot

2. a title used in addressing any other French cleric, such as a priest

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Abbe ² British  

/ ˈaːbə, ˈæbɪ /

noun

1. Ernst. 1840–1905, German physicist, noted for his work in optics and the microscope condenser known as the Abbe condenser

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Etymology

Origin of abbé

First recorded in 1520–30; from French, Middle French, from Late Latin abbāte(m), accusative of abbās abbot

Example Sentences

Morse got most of this story from a book written by a Scottish academic named John Robison, who in turn took many of his ideas from the abbé de Barruel, a French priest.

From Slate • Oct. 24, 2022

He even took minor orders in the Roman Catholic Church in 1865, becoming an abbé but appropriately stopping short of the vow of chastity.

From New York Times • Oct. 22, 2011

This smoothness has perhaps a slight tinge of the priestly—for, as Renan first studied for the priesthood, so Dupont-Sommer was once an abbé.

From The New Yorker • May 6, 1955

Mably, who might be treated equally well under the head of philosophy, was an abbé, and moderately orthodox in religion, though decidedly Republican in politics.

From A Short History of French Literature by Saintsbury, George

In our retreat we encountered a distinguished-looking abbé with a collar and a gold cross, who bowed to my companion.

From The English in the West Indies or, The Bow of Ulysses by Froude, James Anthony

Related Words

• minister