abbey

a monastery under the supervision of an abbott or a convent under the supervision of an abbess

Not to be confused with:

abbé – a member of the French secular clergy; a title of respect for any ecclesiastic

ab·bey

(ăb′ē)

n. pl. ab·beys

1. A monastery supervised by an abbot.

2. A convent supervised by an abbess.

3. A church that is or once was part of a monastery or convent.

[Middle English, from Old French abaie, from Late Latin abbātia; see abbacy.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

abbey

(ˈæbɪ)

1. (Ecclesiastical Terms) a building inhabited by a community of monks or nuns governed by an abbot or abbess

2. (Ecclesiastical Terms) a church built in conjunction with such a building

3. (Ecclesiastical Terms) such a community of monks or nuns

[C13: via Old French abeie from Church Latin abbātia abbacy]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ab•bey

(ˈæb i)

n., pl. -beys.

1. a monastery under the supervision of an abbot or a convent under the supervision of an abbess.

2. the church of an abbey.

[1200–50; Middle English < Old French abeie < Late Latin abbātia abbacy]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	abbey - a church associated with a monastery or convent church building, church - a place for public (especially Christian) worship; "the church was empty"
	2.	abbey - a convent ruled by an abbess convent - a religious residence especially for nuns
	3.	abbey - a monastery ruled by an abbot monastery - the residence of a religious community

abbey

noun monastery, convent, priory, cloister, nunnery, friary a memorial service at Westminster Abbey

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

دَيْرُ الرُّهْباندَيْـر الرُّهْبَاندَيْر، كَنيسَه

абатство

opatstvíopatský chrám

abbediklosterklosterkirke

Abtei Abteikirche Kloster

αβαείο αββαείο μοναστήρι

abadía

luostarikirkkoluostari

abbaye

opatija

apátság

klausturklausturkirkja

abbazia badia

僧院

대수도원

abatijavienuolynas

abatijaklosteris

abdij abdijkerk

abbedi kloster klosterkirke

opactwo

abadia

аббатство монастырь

opátsky chrámopátstvo

opatija

kloster

สำนักสงฆ์

manastırmanastır kilisesi

tu việnnhà tu

修道院属修道院的教堂

abbey

[ˈæbɪ]

A. N → abadía f
Westminster Abbey → la Abadía de Westminster

B. CPD abbey church N → iglesia f abacial, iglesia f de abadía

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

abbey

[ˈæbi] n → abbaye f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

abbey

n → Abtei f; (= church in abbey) → Klosterkirche f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

abbey

[ˈæbɪ] n → abbazia, badia

abbey

(ˈӕbi) noun

1. the building(s) in which a Christian (usually Roman Catholic) group of monks or nuns lives.

2. the church now or formerly belonging to it. Westminster Abbey.

abbey

→ دَيْرُ الرُّهْبان opatství abbedi Abtei αββαείο abadía luostarikirkko abbaye opatija abbazia 僧院 대수도원 abdij kloster opactwo abadia аббатство kloster สำนักสงฆ์ manastır tu viện 修道院

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Being known on her own authority as Miss Abbey Potterson, some water-side heads, which (like the water) were none of the clearest, harboured muddled notions that, because of her dignity and firmness, she was named after, or in some sort related to, the Abbey at Westminster.

'Now, you mind, you Riderhood,' said Miss Abbey Potterson, with emphatic forefinger over the half-door, 'the Fellowship don't want you at all, and would rather by far have your room than your company; but if you were as welcome here as you are not, you shouldn't even then have another drop of drink here this night, after this present pint of beer.

View in context

ADVERTISEMENT BY THE AUTHORESS, TO NORTHANGER ABBEY

View in context

A stranger who knew nothing either of the Abbey or of its immense resources might have gathered from the appearance of the brothers some conception of the varied duties which they were called upon to perform, and of the busy, wide-spread life which centred in the old monastery.

His spirit must be chastened, as must that of many more in this Abbey. You yourself, brother Francis, have twice raised your voice, so it hath come to my ears, when the reader in the refectory hath been dealing with the lives of God's most blessed saints.

View in context

The landlady sayeth they come from Fountain Abbey, in Yorkshire, and go to Lincoln on matters of business."

View in context

Grand old Bisham Abbey, whose stone walls have rung to the shouts of the Knights Templars, and which, at one time, was the home of Anne of Cleves and at another of Queen Elizabeth, is passed on the right bank just half a mile above Marlow Bridge.

View in context

Woodhouse was safely conveyed in his carriage, with one window down, to partake of this alfresco party; and in one of the most comfortable rooms in the Abbey, especially prepared for him by a fire all the morning, he was happily placed, quite at his ease, ready to talk with pleasure of what had been achieved, and advise every body to come and sit down, and not to heat themselves.

View in context

But they dwelt in an old wooden house-- old even in those days--with overhanging gables and balconies of rudely-carved oak, which stood within a pleasant orchard, and was surrounded by a rough stone wall, whence a stout archer might have winged an arrow to St Mary's Abbey. The old abbey flourished then; and the five sisters, living on its fair domains, paid yearly dues to the black monks of St Benedict, to which fraternity it belonged.

View in context

One day as he rode along on horseback, near Kirklees Abbey, he was seized with so violent a rush of blood to the head that he reeled and came near falling from his saddle.

View in context

Between his camp and that of the enemy stood an old abbey, of which, at the present day, there only remain some ruins, but which then was in existence, and was called Newcastle Abbey.

View in context

Notre-Dame de Paris has not, like the Abbey of Tournus, the grave and massive frame, the large and round vault, the glacial bareness, the majestic simplicity of the edifices which have the rounded arch for their progenitor.

View in context