abbey Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a church associated with a monastery or convent
  2. noun a convent ruled by an abbess
  3. noun a monastery ruled by an abbot

WordNet

Ab"bey noun
Etymology
OF. abaïe, F. abbaye, L. abbatia, fr. abbas abbot. See Abbot.
Wordforms
plural Abbeys
Definitions
  1. A monastery or society of persons of either sex, secluded from the world and devoted to religion and celibacy; also, the monastic building or buildings. ✍ The men are called monks, and governed by an abbot; the women are called nuns, and governed by an abbess.
  2. The church of a monastery. In London, the Abbey means Westminster Abbey, and in Scotland, the precincts of the Abbey of Holyrood. The name is also retained for a private residence on the site of an abbey; as, Newstead Abbey, the residence of Lord Byron. Syn. -- Monastery; convent; nunnery; priory; cloister. See Cloister.

Webster 1913