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abbey

[ ab-ee ]
/ ˈæb i /
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noun, plural ab·beys.
a monastery under the supervision of an abbot or a convent under the supervision of an abbess.
the group of buildings comprising such a monastery or convent.
the church of an abbey.
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Origin of abbey

1200–50; Middle English abbey(e) <Old French abeie<Late Latin abbātiaabbacy

Other definitions for abbey (2 of 2)

Abbey
[ ab-ee ]
/ ˈæb i /

noun
Edward, 1927–89, U.S. novelist and nature writer.
Edwin Austin, 1852–1911, U.S. painter and illustrator.
a female given name, form of Abigail.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use abbey in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for abbey

abbey
/ (ˈæbɪ) /

noun
a building inhabited by a community of monks or nuns governed by an abbot or abbess
a church built in conjunction with such a building
such a community of monks or nuns

Word Origin for abbey

C13: via Old French abeie from Church Latin abbātia abbacy
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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