abbey

ab·bey | \ ˈa-bē

How to pronounce abbey (audio)

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plural abbeys

Definition of abbey

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a monastery ruled by an abbot

b : a convent ruled by an abbess

2 : an abbey church

Abbey

biographical name

Ab·bey | \ ˈa-bē

How to pronounce Abbey (audio)

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Definition of Abbey (Entry 2 of 2)

Edwin Austin 1852–1911 American painter and illustrator

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Examples of abbey in a Sentence

Noun the monks in the abbey grow all their own vegetables

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun From October, the abbey grounds will be open to the public six days a week. — New York Times, "A Stained-Glass Gift, From God and Gerhard Richter," 18 Sep. 2020 Through the abbey’s base and up a short hill is Da Laura. — Leslie Pariseau, Saveur, "Journey to the Place Where Pesto Was Born," 18 Sep. 2017 The new building will allow visitors to enter the abbey through the Great West Door, which has historically been used only by monarchs and royal brides. — Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, "Lost Medieval Sacristy, Burial Grounds Unearthed at Westminster Abbey," 26 Aug. 2020 Da Laura Above the San Fruttuoso abbey, this tiny restaurant is known for its green lasagne and mussels marinara. — Leslie Pariseau, Saveur, "Journey to the Place Where Pesto Was Born," 18 Sep. 2017 Forster claims in the biography that the media led the way in agitating for burial in the abbey. — Leon Litvack, Smithsonian Magazine, "Even in Death, Charles Dickens Left Behind a Riveting Tale of Deceit," 5 Feb. 2020 The rocky stretch, on the Italian Riviera, is home to a 10th century abbey and a restaurant with truly outstanding handmade pasta, served in an appropriately beachy style—plastic tablecloths and paper plates. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, "51 Things in Europe that Every Traveler Needs to Experience," 4 Aug. 2020 The abbey flourished, and from early on, included royal quarters for the monarch. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Queen Elizabeth's Royal Residence in Scotland, Has an Impressive History," 20 June 2020 The reader learns, for example, that Nigel the miller gave handsomely to the abbey. — The Economist, "Craft from the past Leaf through the newly digitised “St Albans Benefactors’ Book”," 8 June 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'abbey.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

25 Sep 2020

Cite this Entry

“Abbey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abbey. Accessed 1 Oct. 2020.

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