abbey

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: Ab=bey

CIDE DICTIONARY

abbey, n. [OF. abaïe, abbaïe, F. abbaye, L. abbatia, fr. abbas abbot. See Abbot.].

•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  " The men are called monks, and governed by an abbot; the women are called nuns, and governed by an abbess."  [1913 Webster]
•  The church of a monastery.  [1913 Webster]

  "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."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- Monastery; convent; nunnery; priory; cloister. See Cloister.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

abbey, n. (pl. -eys)
1 the building(s) occupied by a community of monks or nuns.
2 the community itself.
3 a church or house that was once an abbey.

Etymology

ME f. OF abbeie etc. f. med.L abbatia ABBACY

ROGET THESAURUS

abbey

Temple

N temple, place of worship, house of God, house of prayer, temple, cathedral, minster, church, kirk, chapel, meetinghouse, bethel, tabernacle, conventicle, basilica, fane, holy place, chantry, oratory, synagogue, mosque, marabout, pantheon, pagoda, joss house, dogobah, tope, kiosk, kiack, masjid, parsonage, rectory, vicarage, manse, deanery, glebe, Vatican, bishop's palace, Lambeth, altar, shrine, sanctuary, Holy of Holies, sanctum sanctorum, sacristy, sacrarium, communion table, holy table, Lord's table, table of the Lord, pyx, baptistery, font, piscina, stoup, aumbry, sedile, reredos, rood loft, rood screen, chancel, quire, choir, nave, aisle, transept, vestry, crypt, golgotha, calvary, Easter sepulcher, stall, pew, pulpit, ambo, lectern, reading desk, confessional, prothesis, credence, baldachin, baldacchino, apse, belfry, chapter house, presbytery, anxious-bench, anxious-seat, diaconicum, jube, mourner's bench, mourner's seat, cloisters, churchyard, monastery, priory, abbey, friary, convent, nunnery, cloister, claustral, cloistered, monastic, monasterial, conventual, ne vile fano, there's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple.