Abbot

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈæb.É™t/
• GenAm IPA: /ˈæb.É™t/
• Rhymes: -æbÉ™t

Origin

From Middle English abbot, abbod, abbed, from Old English abbat, abbad, abbod, from Latin abbās ("father"), from Ancient Greek ἀββᾶς, from Aramaic אבא (’abbā, "father"). Compare abba, abbé.

Full definition of abbot

Noun

1. The superior or head of an abbey or monastery. First attested around the early 12^th century.

1. The newly appointed abbot decided to take a tour of the abbey with the cardinal's emissary.
2. A layman who received the abbey's revenues, after the closing of the monasteries.

Derived terms

• abbot of the people: a title formerly given to one of the chief magistrates in Genoa.
• Abbot of Misrule (or Lord of Misrule), in medieval times, the master of revels, as at Christmas; in Scotland called the Abbot of Unreason

Related terms

• abba
• abbé
• abbess
• abbot-general
• Abbot of Misrule
• abbot of the people
• archabbot
• archimandrite
• cardinal-abbot
• mitred abbot, mitered abbot
• titular abbot