The difference between Abbess and Lady abbess

When used as nouns, abbess means a female superior or governess of a nunnery, or convent of nuns, having the same authority over the nuns which the abbots have over the monks, whereas lady abbess means a bawd, the mistress of a brothel.


check bellow for the other definitions of Abbess and Lady abbess

  1. Abbess as a noun:

    A female superior or governess of a nunnery, or convent of nuns, having the same authority over the nuns which the abbots have over the monks.

    Examples:

    "The ''abbess'' was always after the nuns to keep the convent immaculately clean."

  2. Abbess as a noun (archaic, British slang):

    A woman who runs a brothel; a woman employed by a prostitute to find clients.

  1. Lady abbess as a noun (rare, obsolete, euphemistic):

    A bawd, the mistress of a brothel.