abbey

noun

ab·​bey ˈa-bē How to pronounce abbey (audio)
plural abbeys
1
a
: a monastery ruled by an abbot
b
: a convent ruled by an abbess
2
: an abbey church

Examples of abbey in a Sentence

the monks in the abbey grow all their own vegetables
Recent Examples on the Web Here, sold by Film Constellation and based on true events, in the 9th century Emma is appointed head of an abbey encharged in repopulating frontier lands abutting Muslim territory. John Hopewell, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024 By 1891, Pope Leo XIII raised the status of the priory to the rank of abbey. Curtis Varnell The Timepiece, arkansasonline.com, 25 Feb. 2024 At the same time, a new monastery was built at the abbey. Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2024 Three phases of the abbey’s construction were unearthed. Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2024 The Curse of Pietro Houdini, by Derek B. Miller Sheltering in a hilltop abbey southeast of Rome, a maverick and a 14-year-old orphan hatch a plan to save the abbey’s priceless paintings from the Nazis. Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Jan. 2024 Just north of Cardiff is the Wye Valley, home to quaint villages and a historic abbey. Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2024 Highlights of the journey include cycling through the beautiful Cheddar Gorge (birthplace of the cheese), numerous castles and abbeys, and city stops in Bristol, Manchester, and Edinburgh. Andrea Romano, Travel + Leisure, 26 Jan. 2024 After the crowning at the ancient abbey, many members of the royal family joined Charles and Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for their first appearance there as King and Queen. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 6 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abbey.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English abbeye, abbay, borrowed from Anglo-French abeie, abbaye, borrowed from Medieval Latin abbātia "abbacy, abbey," from Late Latin abbāt-, abbās abbot + Latin -ia -y entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of abbey was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near abbey

Cite this Entry

“Abbey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abbey. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

abbey

noun
ab·​bey ˈab-ē How to pronounce abbey (audio)
plural abbeys
1
a
b
2
: a church that once belonged to an abbey
Westminster Abbey

Biographical Definition

Abbey

biographical name

Ab·​bey ˈa-bē How to pronounce Abbey (audio)
Edwin Austin 1852–1911 American painter and illustrator

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