ABBEY

AB'BEY, noun plural abbeys, [from abba.]A monastery or society of persons of either sex, secluded from the world and devoted to religion. The males are called monks, and governed by an abbot; the females are called nuns, and governed by an abbess. These institutions were suppressed in England by Henry VIII.; but they still exist in Catholic countries.

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abbey|abby. Abbey, or Abby, n. the residence of an abbot or of monks

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Ab″bey (ăb″by̆), n.; pl. Abbeys (–bĭz). [[OF. abaïe, abbaïe, F. abbaye, L. abbatia, fr. abbas abbot. See Abbot.]] 1. 1. 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.
☞ The men are called monks, and governed by an abbot; the women are called nuns, and governed by an abbess. 2. 2. The church of a monastery.
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. Syn. — Monastery; convent; nunnery; priory; cloister. See Cloister.