Obs. Forms: 1 abbadisse, abbudisse, abbodisse; 1–4 abbodesse; 2–7 abbatisse, abbatesse; 5 abatyse. [a. abbadissa, late L. and early Rom. pronunc. of L. abbātissa (cf. Pr. and It. abbadessa) fem. of abbas, abbāt-em, ABBOT; introduced into Eng. at or soon after the Conversion; afterwards assimilated to the literary L. spelling as abbatisse. In 2 or 3 the Fr. abbesse was introduced, but the earlier form continued to exist beside it as abbatesse, abbotess till 7.] = ABBESS.
c. 855. O. E. Chron., an. 680. And þy ylcan ʓeare forþferde Hild abbodesse on Streonesheale.
c. 885. K. Ælfred, Bæda, iv. 24. On Hilde mynstre þære abbudissan wæs sum bróðor Cædmon ʓeháten.
a. 1000. A. S. Inst. Polity, in Anc. Laws, II. 320. Riht is þæt abbodas & huru abbadissan fæste on mynstrum singallice wunian.
1002. Will of Wulfric, Cod. Dip., VI. 147. And ælcon abbode and æalcon abbatissan .v. mancusas goldes.
1393. Langland, P. Pl., C. VII. 128. Ich haue an Aunte to a nunne · and to an abbodesse [v.r. abbesse, abbasse].
c. 1450. in Wright’s Vocab., 215. Hec abatissa, a abatyse.
1538. Leland, It., II. 67. § 6. Bertane was the first Abbatisse therof.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong., Abbesse, an Abbatesse.
1633. Hanmer, Chron. Irel., 60. This Saint Yta was an Abbatesse, whose originall was of Meth.
1647. N. Bacon, Hist. Disc., xiii. 87. Abbatisses were present, & attested the acts of that Synod.
1649. Selden, Laws of Eng., I. vii. 15 (1739). To govern, chuse, appoint, confirm, and remove Abbots, Abbotesses, Presbyters, and Deacons.
1685. R. Morden, Geogr. Rectified, Germany, 132. The Abbey Quedelnburg, whose Abbatess was sometimes Princess of the Empire.
