Abbess

Etymology
From abaesse:, abeesse: (French abbesse:), from  abbatissa:, feminine of abbas:, abbatis:.

Noun

 * 1) 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.
 * The abbess was always after the nuns to keep the convent immaculately clean.
 * 1)   A bawd, the (head) mistress of a brothel.

Synonyms

 * mother superior
 * lady abbess

Related terms

 * abbey
 * abbot

Thesaurus
canoness, chatelaine, clergywoman, conventual, dame, dowager, first lady, goodwife, governess, great lady, homemaker, housewife, lady superior, madam, matriarch, matron, mistress, mother superior, novice, nun, postulant, prioress, religieuse, secular canoness, sister, superioress, the reverend mother