Forms: 37 abbesse; 4 abbes(e, abbeys; 45 abbas; 46 abbasse; 56 abbace; 7 abbess. [a. OFr. abbesse, abesse, earlier abeësse, abaësse (Pr. abadessa):late L. abbadissa, -tissa, fem. of abbāt-em ABBOT; see -ESS. This OFr. form appears beside the earlier ABBATESS in 23, and has superseded it since 7.] The female superior of a nunnery or convent of women, having the same authority over nuns that an abbot has over monks.
1297. R. Glouc., 370. Þe eldeste, þat was at Came nonne & abbese.
c. 1300. Met. Hom., 164. That was abbes of a nunrye.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 337. His wife that was abbesse there, Unto his tale hath laid her ere.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 6352. Somtyme am I prioresse, And now a nonne, & now abbesse.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 155. Bot Radgunde was first sacryd Abbas þere.
1482. Monk of Evesham, 91. A certen worschipful abbas was ther.
1513. Lyfe of St. Werburge, 78. And dyd electe to them · an other abbace.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., V. i. 166. Go some of you, knocke at the Abbey gate, And bid the Lady Abbesse come to me.
1748. Eliza Heywood, Lifes Progress, II. i. 80. They consulted together how he should behave to the abbess, whose temper being violent, it was not proper to drive to extremes.
1859. Tennyson, Guinevere, 688. And likewise for the high rank she had borne, Was chosen Abbess, there, an Abbess, lived For three brief years, and there, an Abbess, past To where beyond these voices there is peace.