abbacy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the office, dignity, jurisdiction, estate, or term of service of an abbot or abbess

   The abbacy included authority over several dependent monasteries and their lands.

From Middle English abbathie or abbasye, through Anglo-French from Medieval Latin abbatia, 'abbey or office of an abbot,' based on abbas, 'abbot.' Abbey is a doublet from the same Latin source.

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