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. See Abbey.

The female form of abbot. The superior of a convent.

the spiritual and administrative head of an abbey of nuns, elected by the community or nominated by the founding family of the house

the superior of a group of nuns

a woman in charge of a monastary consisting of at least twelve nuns

female head of a nunnery of the Benedictine or related orders

a woman in charge of the nuns in an abbey

The lady superior of a nunnery.

Person in charge of an Abbey

An abbess (Latin abbatissa, fem. form of abbas, abbot) is the female superior, or Mother Superior, of an abbey of nuns.