abbey

The story

1. Ecclesiastical Latin · derived fromabbātia
2. Old French · derived fromabaïe
3. Middle English · inherited fromabbey
4. English todayabbey

From A.D. 1250 in Middle English abbey, abbeye (“convent headed by an abbot”) (compare archaic English abbaye), itself borrowed from Old French abaïe, abbaïe, abeïe, abbeïe (Modern French abbaye) from Late Latin or Ecclesiastical Latin abbātia, from Classical Latin abbās (“abbot”). Doublet of abbacy and Opatija. See abbot.

First known use, by meaning

• First attested around 1150 to 1350. The office or dominion of an abbot or abbess.
• First attested around 1150 to 1350. A monastery or society of people, secluded from the world and devoted to religion and celibacy, which is headed by an abbot or abbess; also, the monastic building or buildings.
• First attested around 1150 to 1350. The church of a monastery.
• Mid 16ᵗʰ century. A residence that was previously an abbatial building.