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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Situating them in a real abbey, Rabelais marshaled them as evidence of hypocrisy. Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024 The Princess of Wales also sent the Scouts home from the fourth iteration of her Together at Christmas carol service home with a little something special — Christmas trees that were brought in to decorate the ancient abbey. Janine Henni, People.com, 23 Dec. 2024 The abbey's cellars, known as 'crayères,' are ancient chalk quarries dating back to the Gallo-Roman era. Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 Since then, he’s injected his flair into Venetian jewels like Abbazia San Gregorio, a former Benedictine abbey and the home of Diane von Furstenburg in Palazzo Brandolini-Giustinian. Sofia Celeste, WWD, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for abbey 

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 4 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

plural abbeys
1
a
b
2
: a church that once belonged to an abbey
Westminster Abbey

Biographical Definition

Abbey

biographical name

Edwin Austin 1852–1911 American painter and illustrator

More from Merriam-Webster on abbey

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